Chapter 5. Digitization and Personal Digital Archiving

Abstract

Chapter 5 of Library Technology Reports (vol. 56, no. 5), “Digital Legacy,” covers the ways in which we store and share information and how they have changed. The days of filing cabinets full of tax documents and memento boxes stuffed with family photographs are coming to an end. Oftentimes, your digital assets are stored between a cell phone, laptop, tablet, cloud storage, e-mail, and flash drives or memory cards. Organizing that information can be an intimidating and scary process.

Providing resources for digitization and information on digital archiving, online legacy management, and digital estate planning can empower library patrons to take control of their digital presence and assets. This chapter explores ways in which libraries can address the growing needs of patrons in managing and preserving their digital lives.