We can deny our heritage and our history, but we cannot
escape responsibility for the results (Edward R. Murrow)
Published on 21 April 2010
Type:
News
When the ECPA closed their website two main publications were not available in a searchable form online. Today this is possible again on the website of Culture in Development
In 2001 the European Commission on Preservation and Access (ECPA) published in cooperation with the National Archives of the Netherlands both the publication Preservation Science Survey by Henk Porck and me, and Rene's annotated bibliography Preservation of archives in tropical climates on their website. These publications formed the main body of the database Gateway for Resources and Information on Preservationon (GRIP), a fully searchable database of information on preservation of documentary heritage. I am still greatfull for their initiative as it was an excellent oppertunity to reach many readers at once.
The ECPA was establisehd in 1994 to promote activities aimed at keeping collections in European archives and libraries accessible over time...to keep our documentary heritage available for future generations of users, large-scale programmes must be developed for its preservation. Reorganizations within the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, the home of the ECPA ever since its foundation, forced the ECPA Board to consider whether to continue on another footing, or bring the work to an end. July 2008 the ECPA brought its work to a close. The website still remains online but it is not known until what time. No new information will be added.
The closure of the ECPA website means that the two publications were about to disappear online. Especially as they are searchable and part of a larger database that would have been very regretful. That is why I am glad to have received the permission to put a copy of the ECPA/GRIP website on the site of Culture in Development. It took the host of this website a while to figure out how to manage that but...today you can search the two publications on this website.
Read Preservation of archives in tropical climates completely searchable at...
Read Preservation Science Survey completely searchable at...
To see the ECPA website (as long as it lasts) go to..
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