Museums across the world are integrating digital migration in efforts to preserve collections of cultural heritage.

“It is a consequence of the rapid growth in technological innovations which changed how we store and retrieve information, moving us from analogue to digital format,” said City of Joburg (CoJ) MMC for Community Development Clr Nonhlanhla Sifumba.

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Sifumba said traditional storage formats make it difficult for members of the public to access important files, information and documents in museums.

“Even the use of floppy disks, video home system tapes, compact audio-cassettes and LP records is becoming obsolete during this digital age.

“Informed by the national digitisation policy and CoJ’s priorities to improve its ability to preserve our resources for future generations, as well as to ensure Johannesburg is a smart city capable of supporting innovation and meeting the demands of the digital age, the James Hall Museum of Transport converted 50 video home system tapes into digital format,” she said.

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Sifumba said the video cassettes contain materials which educate people about the history of land transport in South Africa.

“School groups and the public will have an opportunity to view these materials during the orientation sessions and introductory walkabouts of the museum exhibition tour for the first time.

“The museum intends to preserve, in digital format, our audio-visual heritage for the purpose of accessibility, research and bequeathing it to the next generation of museum enthusiasts,” she said.

Sifumba said the digitised collections will be stored and preserved in a central repository for cultural heritage in the Department of Community Development’s Museum Africa. It will be available to members of the public upon request and for research purposes.

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