Filipiniana Materials and the Philippine eLib: the Philippine Perspective of Digitizing Printed Heritage Materials

Abstract

The Philippine eLib has brought previously inaccessible materials to Filipinos. Printed Filipiniana heritage materials in the Philippines have a higher risk of deterioration due to many factors, some of which are: tropical climate, shortage of properly trained professionals in preservation and conservation, lack of institutional support for their proper care and storage, and general apathy of the public for their dreadful condition and eventual deterioration. On the other hand, because of the growing awareness of the importance of our cultural heritage and the advocacy of concerned individuals and groups in their preservation, Filipinos and Philippine institutions have become supportive in this movement; the Philippine eLib is one such effort to support this venture. The Philippine eLib is the digital resource of five government agencies: The University of the Philippines, the National Library, the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Agriculture and the Commission of Higher Education. This paper discusses the Philippine eLib and the digitization of Filipiniana Heritage Materials of the University of the Philippines.