Ibero-American Network of Digital Preservation of Sound and Audiovisual Archives: an alternative of scientific collaboration

A sustainable digital preservation is the main challenge for sound and audiovisual archives of all types and dimensions. In many cases, collections have not yet been digitized, and in addition the archives do not have methods to preserve born digital documents. Archives that have digitized their collections confront henceforth the challenge of having digital archives. In Iberoamerica, and in particular in Latin American countries, the risk of losing sound and audiovisual media is an urgent problem that affects materials recorded on analog carriers and born digital materials. An alternative to this situation is scientific collaboration. Therefore, this article presents the background and perspectives of the Ibero-American Network for Digital Preservation of Sound and Audiovisual Archives (RIPDASA) created to identify, analyse, give visibility and disseminate sustainable digital preservation alternatives for the archives of the region. This initiative intends to reduce the risk of loss of such cultural heritage and thereby, ensure its access for both current and future generations. RIPDASA links researchers and professionals of sound and audiovisual archives of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Spain, and Uruguay; as well as the AVP company; with support from the Ibero-American Program of Science and Technology for Development (CYTED).