Aruba Entrusts Internet Archive with Preserving Its National History
The tiny Caribbean island of Aruba has taken an unprecedented step: entrusting the Internet Archive, a nonprofit digital preservation organization, with safeguarding its entire national history.
A Unique Collaboration
The Aruba Collection, now available online via the Internet Archive, comprises 101,376 digitized items from Aruba’s National Library, National Archives, University, and other institutions. The collection captures the island’s turbulent past under Spanish and Dutch colonial rule and includes documents, images, and 3D objects.
Preserving a Fragile History
Stacy Argondizzo, a digital archivist at the Internet Archive, initiated the project in 2018, concerned about the vulnerability of Aruba’s physical archives to natural disasters. “They were one disaster away, basically, from losing everything,” she said.
A Tech-Savvy Solution
The Internet Archive provided Aruba with software to organize the vast collection, including algorithms to transcribe handwritten documents. This partnership allowed Aruba to overcome its limited resources and digitize its history efficiently.
Global Collaboration
Aruba’s colonial history spread its documents worldwide, making it challenging to establish a central hub for researchers. The Internet Archive’s online platform enables researchers abroad to access the collection without traveling to the island.
Model for Future Preservation
Aruba’s archivists envision their collaboration with the Internet Archive as a model for other nations with limited resources and fragile archives. Edric Croes, head of archival conservation, said, “It’s a really feasible model that could be applied to a lot of small islands, developing states, even bigger countries with limited means.”
Challenges of Digital Preservation
While the Internet Archive’s technical capabilities far exceed those of many nations, its future is not without challenges. It faces legal battles involving copyright lawsuits and disputes with publishing companies.
Internet Archive’s Resilience
Despite these challenges, the Internet Archive remains committed to its mission. Chris Freeland, director of library services, said, “We’re in this for the long haul.” Aruba’s endorsement has bolstered their resolve, reinforcing the importance of preserving the world’s digital heritage.
Mehek