The euphoria that opportunities in the field of digitization generate is great. However, Dr. Martin Luchterhandt, senior archives councillor at the National Archives Berlin, warns about considering digitization to be a universal remedy.

Mr. Luchterhandt, the blessing of digitization is praised by many and especially by libraries. You tend, however, to take a somewhat more sceptical view towards it. Why?

In the case of digital media the norm is: everything that is not regularly updated becomes at some point obsolete. All the money put into digitization is lost if we do not constantly invest in additional expenditure to uphold the level achieved. If you, for example, scan in a document today, you are using standards that will in 20 years be outdated. In order to still be able to view the document in 20 years you must have the right hard and software at your disposal. Continual up-grades are necessary. And, if you miss just once, damage will occur. For instance, this can be seen by looking at the technical problems the Birthler authorities are confronted with when they want to use old, electronic recordings from the “Stasi” (former East German Intelligence Service).

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