[Bell Historians] Archiving web information

[David Bryant]

Bill wrote:

> However, for websites which are multi-media and interactive (sound
> files, graphics, cross-linking between pages, searchable etc.) a
> paper printout will omit much useful content. The ultimate example
> might be a website built around a database, where the visible
> manifestation of the website may never adequately represent the
> relationships which exist in the data. Perhaps a paper printout
> should be kept just in case, but much more useful would be to burn a
> CD for the CC archives - much cheaper, and much more useful. One is
> taking a gamble that the technology will exist to access the CD - but
> if the information (sound files, cross-links, data relationships
> etc.) is only accessible via this technology then it's Hobson's
> choice.

Perhaps a paper print out and a CD would be a good idea. Then if the CD
becomes unreadable due to changes in technology there will at least
still be the paper version. The CD becoming unreadable is pretty much
inevitable given enough time, unless its contents are converted and a
new CD written as standards change. This problem affects many
professions, and I know of a company (called Archaeological Data
Services and based at York University) which looks after archaeological
data recorded digitally and updates it into new formats as necessary to
ensure it remains readable. Something like this is likely to be too
expensive for the CC library, though.

David