Securing durable knowledge is challenging!

The advent of the Internet has enabled digitised knowledge to be accessed readily from all over the earth with a speed and search capacity that was unthinkable even a few years ago. However, knowledge stored digitally is vulnerable to destruction by malicious hackers, to obsolescence of equipment capable of rendering it into readable text, and to the idiosyncratic policies of the commercial companies who store it on behalf of users. Paul Lareau’s archive (on this site) is just one example of a trove of material that has been at risk of loss. Fortunately, it has been captured by a web archival service.

Knowledge stored in magnetic media such as audiotapes is vulnerable to destruction by moisture, magnetised equipment nearby and to obsolescence of equipment capable of rendering it accessible.

On the other hand, knowledge stored on paper is vulnerable to destruction by insects, fire, mould and leaking roofs. Air-conditioning in a moist climate like Norfolk Island’s is highly desirable but is not usual, given the congenial climate. Knowledge stored on paper can be accessed only by those who can gain physical possession. Physical curation is expensive.

In summary, physical storage and electronic (digital) storage are complementary. Digital can be seen as a method of bringing physical materials to international attention at the touch of a button. Physical can be seen as a safety-net backup to impermanent digital files. Storage via both methods greatly increases the level of security.