Question : PRESERVATION OF TRADITIONAL AND DIGITAL NEWS PAPERS

(a) whether there is a proposal for preservation of traditional and digital newspapers in the wake of rapid technological changes;

(b) if so, whether International Federation of Library Association (IFLA) in its three day conference has suggested for collaboration of Library, IT companies and Government to ensure that the contents are not lost;

(c) if so, whether Government is in the process of formulating a policy on preservation of its archives;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken or being taken by the Government to adopt internationally accepted system for preservation of Archives?

MINISTER OF STATE OF PLANNING AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY)

(a) Preservation of traditional and digital newspapers in the wake of rapid technological changes is an important ongoing activity, undertaken by the libraries and archives of the Ministry of Culture in a decentralized manner.

(b) Yes, Sir. The IFLA Newspaper Section in its three days conference organized at the IGNCA, New Delhi in February, 2010, proposed a framework for launching a national level programme for Centralized Digital Preservation of News Information Sources in India.

(c) No, Sir.

(d) The archives and libraries of the Ministry of Culture undertake preservation and digitization of newspapers in their collections as a part of their regular developmental activities.

(e) The Government [including its Institutions such as Bureau of Indian Standards] is promoting use of Internationally accepted system for preservation and conservation of materials in archives in a planned and calibrated manner.