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Given the fluid nature of the Internet and the rise of online publishing, countries throughout the world are responding to the need to preserve our digital heritage for future generations. Since the early 1990’s, the World Wide Web has revolutionised publishing. Although the Internet had its origins in academic circles, it has since become a key medium for personal communication, virtual community building, marketing, electronic commerce, publishing and the mass dissemination of information.
The Internet has spawned new directions in commerce; it has enabled the rise of online businesses and the abundant self promotion for numerous organisations and companies, by facilitating the individual’s ability to engage in personal web endeavours with services such as Yahoo's Geo Cities. Accordingly, the need to develop a presence on the Internet is felt by many. However, the Internet possesses an inherent problem. Given the fluid and dynamic nature of the Internet, the premise of ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ ensues. As an ever-evolving medium, the Internet experiences perpetual growth and decay with websites constantly appearing, disappearing and redeveloping. This vanishing character of the Internet content is substantiated by claims that the average lifetime of a website is only 44 days (Martin, 2003). As such, concerns for the preservation of this digital resource have arisen, for it is feared that “invaluable scholarly, cultural and scientific resources will be unavailable to future generations�? (Day, 2003, 6). Thus, preservation of information on the Internet has become an issue of responsibility for many countries around the world.
Those who have pursued the need to archive the web have faced several challenges. The very nature and size of the Internet for instance, are highly problematic factors in the process of archiving and digital preservation. Further concerns include the decentralised governance of the Internet, which largely means that decisions regarding content and delivery are in the hands of the website owners (Day, 2003, p. 7). Coupled with this is the fluid nature of the Internet, as discussed, and encumbering legal challenges. Legal issues that have surfaced include copyright, as well as liability issues concerning data protection, content liability and defamation (2003, pp. 7-8).
Australia is claimed to have a robust digital online culture, boasting a large number of leading online projects (Beagrie, 2003, p. 14). With increasing amounts of unique Australian information being published on the Internet in the mid-1990s the National Library of Australia responded and established an electronic archive called PANDORA (Preserving and Accessing Networked Documentary Resources of Australia) in 1996.
The primary aim of PANDORA is to “capture, archive and provide long term access to significant Australia online publications selected for national preservation�? (National Library of Australia, 1997). Since 1996, PANDORA has developed a growing archive collection, containing copies of Australian online publications and websites that are about Australia and written by Australian authors. With a careful selective approach, clear guidelines and cataloguing systems, PANDORA is ensuring long-term access to online publications that are of social, political, cultural, religious, scientific and economic significance to the Australian public (2004).
At present, PANDORA is in partnership with nine other Australian libraries and other cultural collecting organisations guaranteeing the documentation of Australian history and culture. PANDORA is one of many digital preservation projects around the world, with countries including Austria, Finland, France, New Zealand, Sweden, the US and the UK also establishing Internet archives (Day, 2003, p. 8). Consequently, the preservation of our digital heritage for future generations is secured.
--Paul Fitzpatrick 17:49, 27 Oct 2005 (EST)
