Programme has helped to digitise over 12 million images and 35,000 soundtracks in over 90 countries since 2004.
Charitable foundation Arcadia has awarded the British Library £15 million to continue the Endangered Archives Programme, which aims to preserve, digitise and make available archival material that is in danger of destruction, neglect or physical deterioration across the world.
Established in 2004, the Endangered Archives Programme has provided grants to several hundred projects in over 90 countries, developing one of the world’s largest digital collections of endangered material with significant cultural and research value. It has helped to digitise over 12 million images of rare printed sources, manuscripts and visual materials, as well more than 35,000 audio recordings.
The £15 million grant from Arcadia enhances the existing collaboration with the British Library and enables the Endangered Archives Programme to continue for ten more years. It will help to fund more international projects that preserve, document and digitise archival material, ensuring the digital outputs are made available for research, inspiration and enjoyment.
The Endangered Archives Programme supports training and capacity building in the country where the archive is located, so that expertise in digitisation and cataloguing developed during projects is embedded in local archival institutions. Creating digital files increases accessibility and facilitates long-term preservation, with at least two copies being stored: a primary copy that remains in the country of origin, and a secondary copy at the British Library.
Sam van Schaik, Head of the Endangered Archives Programme, said:
“This year marks 50 years since the British Library began operations and we believe that a national library is also, by its nature, an international library, part of a global community. We are incredibly grateful to Arcadia for this generous grant, which will help us to continue working with institutions across the world whose collections are at risk.”
Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin, Arcadia co-founders, said:
“The Endangered Archives Programme has had an important role in preserving documentary collections for almost twenty years. Primary sources, like those protected by the programme, are precious in a world plagued by misinformation. We are pleased to continue supporting the British Library’s work, which has made millions of images of books, documents, photographs and other material available online for generations to come. We admire the hundreds of people around the world who have led and contributed to projects funded by the programme, serving their communities and all of humanity.”
The growing collection of digital material is freely available through the Endangered Archives Programme’s website and local archival partners.
