Outreach of the Franciscan Historical Archive of Zapopan, Mexico.

 In the article “Preoccupied with our own gardens”: Outreach and archivist”, the author analyzes the challenges of the social reach of archives. He uses the example of the discovery of letters from a feminist found by a doctoral student among the shelves of an archive. The impact of this discovery overshadowed the fact that the letters had always been preserved in the archive, but no one knew of their existence.

This situation leads the author to reflect on the challenges of projecting the archive to the community and society in general. The most traditional way to promote the archive is through temporary exhibitions; however, as Erickson states, exhibitions have the disadvantage of having limited social reach as they are confined to a specific space and time, requiring users to travel. During our class on Thursday, November 16, we brainstormed some other options for archives to connect with the community. Among the options mentioned were public presentations, workshops, brochures, guides, media features, displays, publications, etc.

My personal research has primarily involved working with archives related to some branch of the Catholic Church. These archives, being the product and property of a religious institution, often pay less attention to outreach, as their existence would initially be for the internal use of the institution.

Nevertheless, in recent years, I have observed a gradual but progressive change in the presence of the Franciscan Historical Archive of Zapopan in the community. In 2024, the 500 years of Franciscan presence in the New World will be celebrated. This significant event for the order has prompted the archive, which preserves a large number of documents dating from the arrival of the first Franciscans with Hernan Cortes to more recent times, to undertake various outreach strategies resulting in a greater local and international presence.

As a researcher and user of this archive, I can highlight among the most impactful and far-reaching elements, the international conferences that started during the COVID-19 crisis entirely virtually and have continued in a hybrid format in the following years.

These international conferences, all focused on celebrating the 500 years of the order's arrival, have propelled the archive's presence internationally. The use of technological tools such as conference platforms made it possible for a much larger audience to participate and, at the same time, exposed the archive's holdings to a broader range of researchers and potential users, as in my personal case. These conferences also brought the role of the archivist closer to users by creating a network of researchers and archivists through social media and emails, allowing researchers abroad, or even those in Mexico outside the region of the archive, to remotely explore the collections.

Another key element in the archive's outreach, as discussed in class, is the use of social media. In the case of the Franciscan Historical Archive, they remain more active on the Facebook platform (https://m.facebook.com/p/Archivo-Hist%C3%B3rico-Franciscano-de-Zapopan-AHFZ-100063655328010/). On this platform, they constantly post interesting data about the collections they preserve, as well as virtual exhibitions, conferences, publications, etc.

I have chosen to refer to the case of the Franciscan Historical Archive of Zapopan because it seems to be an example of the efforts and challenges faced by archivists, as mentioned by Erickson in his article. However, I must acknowledge that, unfortunately, despite efforts for greater archive promotion, these efforts often remain incomplete in the face of other challenges the archive faces, such as a lack of personnel leading to slow remote user response and a slow digitization process that hinders remote access to collections.

Reflections on the Challenges of Digital Archive Preservation

    The assigned readings prompted me to reflect on the challenges facing the preservation of digital archives. This reflection has arisen from personal experience. As a child, my parents always stored memories of my childhood in some tangible format. Photo albums and notebooks filled with clippings from significant events in a child's life were predominant, along with audio or video recordings on cassettes to a lesser extent. During my youth, I witnessed the transition between two worlds — one that is gone and will never return, and a new one, so commonplace today, yet so novel back then.

    During my first experience abroad, communication with my mother was still via postal mail. I witnessed the birth of email while living in Canada, where it was still restricted to university use in my home country. From that youthful era, I retain my travel diary and some letters my mother saved. However, all those communications I began having via email have been lost forever. Nowadays, memories of my children are all in digital format. Sometimes, I feel that these memories, so precious to me, are more fragile than the photographs taken by my parents. I have witnessed the rapid and constant change in formats and technologies for information preservation.

    In light of my personal concerns about how family memories will be better preserved in the future, I have formulated some ideas about the challenges faced by digital archives, especially those without tangible support. Unfortunately, I could not participate in Thursday's class, but I share some of these ideas in this blog in a prose-like manner, although some might be better suited as questions.

    At the forefront of the challenges of preservation is the rapid advancement of technology. The dynamic nature of file formats and digital technologies quickly renders both hardware and software obsolete. This complicates the reading of old files with current technologies, requiring constant vigilance and proactive measures to ensure continuous accessibility.

    Physical storage media, once fundamental for data preservation, now face an inevitable path to obsolescence. Hard drives, CD-ROMs, and tape units succumb to the passage of time, demanding a fundamental shift toward new storage media. Migration to these modern media is not just advisable but imperative to avoid the imminent threat of data loss.

    The diversity of file formats and standards introduces a layer of complexity in the form of interoperability issues. The lack of standardized norms can result in cryptic and unreadable files over time. Focusing on standardized approaches is essential to mitigate this risk and maintain the accessibility of digital files.

    In an era permeated by digital connectivity, the spectrum of security threats looms over digital files. From viruses and malware to ransomware and sophisticated cyberattacks, the arsenal of potential dangers is vast. The loss of data due to such cyber threats underscores the critical importance of fortifying digital files with robust security measures.

    Contextual information, encapsulated in metadata, provides the narrative thread that weaves through digital files. Preserving this contextual richness over time emerges as a significant challenge, as metadata is susceptible to loss or corruption. Meticulous management and archival practices are imperative to ensure the enduring legacy of digital records.

    As we discussed in the class on November 2nd, the dynamic landscape of privacy and copyright regulations introduces an additional layer of complexity. Adapting to legal changes and ensuring proper rights management are integral components of the long-term preservation strategy for digital files.

    The sustained effort required for digital preservation demands continuous investment in technology, personnel training, and other critical resources. The scarcity of funding and resources emerges as a potential bottleneck, underscoring the need for unwavering support to ensure the success of long-term preservation initiatives.