Long-Term Preservation for Access of Audio-Visual Archives at Botswana National Archives (BNARS)

Abstract

This chapter discusses the long-term preservation and access to audio-visual (AV) archives at the Botswana National Archives and Records Services (BNARS). The principal guidance to the study was attributed to international preservation guidelines, standards, and best practices. The study adopted a qualitative approach, along with the employment of these data collection methods: interviews, observation, and document review. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the target population, which included the deputy director, senior archivist, and the archives officer. Data was subjected to thematic analysis in line with the set objectives. The key research findings of the study indicated that there were no long-term preservation strategy for AV archives at BNARS, there was absence of archival access and no acquisition policies in place, various types of AV materials were all stored under the same roof and under the same climatic conditions. Furthermore, some AV archives were not processed thus making it hard to identify, retrieve, and make them accessible for use. Additionally, the research reflected that there was lack of requisite special technical skills needed for long-term preservation of AV archives. Finally, the study revealed that there was no specific budget for the long-term preservation of AV archives at BNARS. In conclusion, therefore, the study recommends that, BNARS develop a holistic AV preservation strategy to ensure the long-term availability and accessibility of AV archives for future use.