Preservation of Audio-Visual Records at the National Archives of Namibia (original) (raw)

The management of audiovisual materials in the member states of the East and Southern Africa Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives (ESARBICA)

2008

This research investigated the management of audiovisual materials (AV) in the East and Southern Africa Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives (ESARBICA). The study employed questionnaires, interviews and observation to gather data from a population of fourteen national archives. The response rate from the questionnaires was 64.28%. The observations and interviews were carried out from a sample of three national archives and four national media organisations, as explained in Chapter Three. The study confirmed previous studies that attributed continued dissipation of AV materials to various factors such as climatic and environmental conditions, shortage or lack of skilled AV archivists and lack of a standard legal framework in the ESARBICA region. Most national archives did not cover audiovisual archives in their legislation. The study discovered that most of the national archives did not apply the following policies to AV materials: appraisal, acquisition, access, ...

Challenges of managing and preserving audio-visual archives in archival institutions in Sub Saharan Africa: a literature review

Collection and Curation, 2020

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify challenges related to the management and preservation of audio-visual (AV) records and/or archives in archival institutions in Sub Saharan Africa and suggests strategies for resolving them. Design/methodology/approach This study is qualitative in nature and used content analysis from desk top review of literature to identify the challenges and suggested solutions. Findings Among others, the study revealed that budgetary constraints, poor environmental controls, ill-equipped staff and technological obsolescence are the major challenges hampering the efforts of archival institutions in Sub Saharan Africa to manage and preserve AV archives. Research limitations/implications The contextual differences due to existing political set ups in archival agencies in Sub Saharan Africa may or may not be receptive to some of the strategies suggested for the improvement of managing and preserving audio visual archives. Practical implications The pap...

Policies and strategies that govern the management of audio-visual materials in Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives

2011

This paper reports the results of an empirical study on the management of audio-visual materials in the member states of the East and Southern Africa Regional Branch of theInternational Council on Archives (ESARBICA). The paper examines the extent to which national archives in ESARBICA apply archival policies and strategies to the management of audio-visual (AV) materials. The main objectives of the study were to: i) identify policies which archival institutions in ESARBICA used to manage AV materials; and ii) identify strategies which archival institutions in ESARBICA apply to the management of AV materials. The study employed a survey design. Nine countries (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Swaziland) in the region were covered. Data was gathered mainly through literature review supplemented by interviews and observation checklists. The findings revealed that while some national archives adhered to established standards and practices, ...

Preservation of audio-visual archives in Zambia

ESARBICA Journal: Journal of the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives, 2021

Audio-visual records and archives constitute a fundamental heritage that satisfies multiple needs, including education, training, research and entertainment. As such, there is a need to appropriately preserve and conserve them so they can be accessed for as long as they are needed. In spite of their significant role in safeguarding cultural heritage, audio-visual records and archives, are often neglected and accorded less attention than paper-based records, especially in developing countries. Hence, there is a risk of losing information held in audio-visual form. That is why this study looked at how the National Archives of Zambia (NAZ) and the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) preserve audio-visual materials to ensure long-term accessibility of the information. The study investigated the types of audio-visual collections held, the storage equipment used, measures put in place to ensure long-term accessibility of audio-visual materials, the disaster preparedness plans ...

Esarbica Journal Journal of the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives

2021

Audio-visual records and archives constitute a fundamental heritage that satisfies multiple needs, including education, training, research and entertainment. As such, there is a need to appropriately preserve and conserve them so they can be accessed for as long as they are needed. In spite of their significant role in safeguarding cultural heritage, audio-visual records and archives, are often neglected and accorded less attention than paper-based records, especially in developing countries. Hence, there is a risk of losing information held in audio-visual form. That is why this study looked at how the National Archives of Zambia (NAZ) and the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) preserve audio-visual materials to ensure long-term accessibility of the information. The study investigated the types of audio-visual collections held, the storage equipment used, measures put in place to ensure long-term accessibility of audio-visual materials, the disaster preparedness plans ...

Managing Audio-Visual Resources in Selected Developed and Developing Countries

Advances in Religious and Cultural Studies, 2018

This chapter emphasises that audiovisual (AV) resources are very fragile and need to be stored in ideal conditions to preserve them for posterity. It describes different types of AV materials and the conditions under which they should be kept. It is based on a study that was conducted in the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives (ESARBICA) region. Data were gathered using quantitative and qualitative methods. The results revealed lack of equipment to monitor environmental conditions, absence of policies to govern the acquisition, appraisal, access, preservation, retention, digitisation and disposal of AV materials, and failure to apply the records life cycle (or any model) to AV records. The results point to a need for national archives to develop guidelines that apply to AV materials particularly in Africa. Particular attention should be given to training AV archivists in the region using an integrated curriculum.

Preservation and Accessibility of Audio-visual Records in Tanzania’s Television Broadcasting Companies

2018

This study investigated the preservation and accessibility of audio-visual records in television broadcasting companies in Tanzania. Specifically, it set out to determine how audio-visual records are preserved in television broadcasting companies; to establish how audio-visual records in television broadcasting companies in Tanzania are accessed and to examine challenges to effective preservation and accessing of audio-visual records in television broadcasting companies in Tanzania. The literature reviewed and the findings from pilot study indicate that many AV records are produced by individuals, television companies and other entities in both rural and urban Tanzania. They also indicate that there are intervening factors such as resource constraints, technological incompatibility, inadequate infrastructure, inadequate skills, environmental factors, and unclear policies the hinder access to and use of audio-visual records. Since the preservation and accessibility to audio-visual r...

The Challenges of Archiving Audio Visual Heritages in Northern Nigeria

Archiving Conference, 2019

This paper attempts to show case the challenges militating against the establishment, funding and promotion of audiovisual archiving collections held by different government institutions in Northern Nigeria. The rationale of such attempt rests on the observation that although audiovisual materials constitute vital information resource in such institutions, they are often not adequately managed after their creation. The paper also identifies the major constraints and limitations of audiovisual materials found in the public sectors, media houses and the challenges in their management. This serves as an important mechanism for raising general awareness on the audiovisual materials and on the need to preserve and safeguard such materials for future generations, as a means of making them accessible to the public. The paper shows that many of the problems related to the management of such materials in the country emanate from, such us national policy on preservation and conservation, lack of trained personnel in the management of audiovisual materials, technological challenges, inadequate storage facilities and the perception by users that audiovisual materials are not as valuable as records in other formats. The paper proffer strategies for dealing with the challenges of preserving and improving the use of audiovisual materials in Nigeria.

Archiving the voices of the once voiceless: strategies for digital preservation of oral history at the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Archives

ESARBICA Journal: Journal of the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives

With the urge for instant access to records resulting from the rapid development of technology, there is a need for the digital preservation of vulnerable oral history records. Oral history records are primary sources that confirm certain aspects of historical events and preserving oral history records is crucial to ensure societal memory. In the South African context, oral history has given a voice to the people who were voiceless in the past due to colonialism and the apartheid system. This study investigated possible digital strategies and techniques for preserving oral history records at the KwaZulu-Natal Archives and Records Service (KZNARS) Oral History Unit (OHU). A qualitative approach was used, and data were collected using semi-structured interviews from purposely selected members of the OHU staff. In addition, an observation guide was used to collect data regarding the current playback equipment, storage conditions and the state of the oral history records. Content and th...