Abstract:
This study explored the factors affecting the nature and extent of the collection of
born digital materials for long-term retention by collecting repositories in New Zealand cultural
heritage institutions, below the national level. This included exploration of selection factors,
limiting and enabling factors affecting activities, preservation and acquisition policies for born
digital materials, preservation procedures, and perceptions of roles and responsibilities. This two
phase, mixed methods study consisted of a broad web survey followed by semi-structured
interviews. The collecting repositories studied hold a range of born digital materials, but in
small quantities. The collection of born digital heritage seems to be a new activity that requires
additional resourcing and skills that are lacking in many of these collecting repositories. Levels
of policy development are low and there is generally a lack of procedures for preserving born
digital materials. However respondents generally perceived that collecting and preserving born
digital materials was part of their role. The study concludes that the
traditionally passive approach to acquisition of many of the collecting archives
studied, combined with a lack of resourcing and expertise, pose a threat to the long term
accessibility of local and regional born digital heritage. Some recommendations for action are
provided.
