Ever-changing digital formats can present their own challenges for preserving objects. The ephemeral nature of digital records, the sheer volume of them, and slow decay of portable media and the equipment/expertise needed to access them all present terrifying challenges to the archivist.
Floppy disk reader and sample floppy disks.
VHS Tapes, Floppy Disk Reader, and Floppy Disks, 1990s
A common digital storage format for decades, these magnetic formats are facing challenges of access due to declining ability to read their contents and the slow decay of their magnetic features. When was the last time you had access to a VCR or floppy disk drive?
The children's show Blue's Clues was co-created by CatholicU alumna Angela Candace Santomero (BA 1990).
Vinegar Syndrome Film Reels
Older magnetic tapes, such as these items, will degrade over time. Acidic conditions will emerge, causing the reels to shrivel, crack, and put off a vinegar-like odor. Sadly, the process is irreversible.
Decontextualized CD-ROM, 2000s
This unusual disc, labeled “National Anthem - No Audio” contains nothing. Archival staff are perplexed by the context of its creation and relation to the University collections it was located within. Unlike physical materials, digital files can be disassociated from the context of their creation. This may make it difficult to interpret their meaning or connection within a broader collection.