Books and Libraries in the Digital Age , video from MIT Communications Forum (Oct 2008)
One of a series of lectures from MIT. Here Robert Darnton, Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor, Harvard University, talks about delving into digital archives, their use and preservation.
"In conversation with David Thorburn and audience members, Darnton lays out why he finds more promise than peril in rapidly expanding digital collections. He first owns up to the tactile pleasures of archival history: the sensation of opening a box full of manuscripts, dirty hands, the smell of old paper, and literally coming “into contact with vanished humanity.” He cherishes the drama of such research, as well as the finished, weighty products of this kind of work: the book. While the “tactile quality of books” is very important -- and Darnton describes holding up leaves of 18th century books to see bits of ground-down petticoat thread -- there are also positive dimensions to digital versions."
Length 1:54 hour.
Thanks to ResourceShelf for posting this.
Posted by Gwen at January 7, 2009 03:49 PM