This submission from the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) discusses the need for legislation to support the work being done by various agencies including the National Library and the National Film and Sound Archive to archive, preserve and provide access to our cultural heritage for future generations.
The incredibly rapid growth in the delivery of information in electronic formats has left organisations responsible for the preservation of, and access to this information unable to adequately meet their obligations, in part because of the complexity of technological, economic and organisational requirements, but also because the existing deposit legislation is not designed for, or adequate to deal with this new digital environment.
There is no requirement that producers of films or musical recordings deposit copies with the National Film and Sound Archive and despite the dedicated work of those in the Archive much material is probably lost.
