[Genealib] Digitization vs. Keeping old records

[MPL Genealogy]

One of the considerations that I think about is whether a digitized copy
is acceptable as court evidence.  Microfilmed documents such as checks
are deemed acceptable because they are in a fixed order on a medium that
can not be altered with detection.  Digitized records by their very
nature, in my mind, are not suitable as court evidence.
 
Wally
Muskogee Public Library
Local History/Genealogy Libn.
history at eok.lib.ok.us
918-682-6657 x257
 
"At most living memory endures for a hundred years or so.  Thereafter,
even the barest outline of the past is forgotten, unless it is recorded
in writing..."  John Morris in Londinium: London in the Roman Empire, p.
205.
 
-----Original Message-----
From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
[mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu] On Behalf Of Danielle
Plumer
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 1:34 PM
To: Librarians Serving Genealogists
Subject: RE: [Genealib] Digitization vs. Keeping old records
 
Pam,
 
Check with the state of Florida to see what their rules are. In Texas,
local governments are allowed to dispose of historic records if there is
an acceptable alternative, including primarily microfilm, but many
groups are moving to digitization. There are fairly strict requirements
for quality and accessibility, but the tests are done on samples, not on
every frame of every record. However, as genealogists know, the Census
microfilm is not always usable, and for later years the original paper
copies were destroyed after microfilming. Big mistake!
 
Depending on the nature of the records, there may be good reasons for
considering the paper documents themselves to be of permanent archival
value, so a surrogate wouldn't be appropriate. I sincerely doubt that
all of the records qualify for permanent retention, but some of them
may. You really need to have an archival appraisal done for the
collection.
 
Danielle Cunniff Plumer, Coordinator
Texas Heritage Digitization Initiative
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
512.463.5852 (phone) / 512.936.2306 (fax)
dplumer at tsl.state.tx.us 
-----Original Message-----
From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
[mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu]On Behalf Of Pam Cooper
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 11:59 AM
To: Librarians Serving Genealogists
Subject: [Genealib] Digitization vs. Keeping old records
Since digitization has been brought up, it reminded me of what I am
potentially facing in the coming weeks.
 
It may be a possible stand-off with my county officials about their old
records. We are relatively a young county and the County Commissioners
have not faced the issue of storing or preserving their old records.
They will soon move into a new building in June. I have been told they
are digitizing and will be throwing away the old records. They do not
want any of them in the new building. Yikes!
 
I am trying to stop this and find a way to put the records in our
library. I am hoping to receive some good arguments against trashing the
records from those of you who are experienced in the archive field. Or,
am I out of date???
 
Your help would be most appreciated.
 
Pam
 
Pamela J. Cooper, Supervisor 
Archive Center & Genealogy Department
Indian River County Main Library
1600 21st Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960
 
772-770-5060 x108 - Fax 772-770-5066
Email: pcooper at irclibrary.org 
 
Need a guide to our collection? 
See our pathfinders at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~flindian/ircl/
 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.acomp.usf.edu/pipermail/genealib/attachments/20070202/30e45759/attachment.html