APSIG newsletter no. 58: July 2005

Endangered archives program grants in the Pacific

Yap State Archives, Federated States of Micronesia, has received a grant of £21 000 for a major project from the new Endangered Archives Programme (EAP) which is supported by The Lisbet Rausing Charitable Fund and administered by the British Library. The grant will enable the migration of 179 audio tapes to CD, their storage within a dedicated server as well as the translation and transcription of the tapes. The tapes were created during the First Yap State Constitutional Convention in 1982 and contain discussion as well as public hearings on such matters as civil liberties and traditions, plenary session, government structure and functions and general provisions. The Yap State archivist, Cheryl Stanborough, and her staff will undertake the project. The grant will enable the purchase of equipment, such as a dedicated server to store the converted tapes, computer and tape recorder, provide salary for the estimated two years of the project for translation and transcription, and the purchase of all necessary consumables.

National Archives of Tuvalu has received a grant of £5150 also from the Endangered Archives Programme for a pilot project on the digital preservation of some of its archival records. The award will enable a feasibility study on the digital preservation of Tuvalu's earlier vital records, and will include a survey to identify records, some digital and microfilm copying, followed by a report with recommendations for possible additional work. Tuvalu National Archives staff, with assistance from Richard Overy and Ewan Maidment, will undertake the project. Support is being provided by the Pacific Manuscripts Bureau, which initiated the project and will act as host institution and project administrator.

Details of the awards made under the Endangered Archives Programme have now been posted on the EAP website.