Conservation of DocumentsThe Archives develops and applies specialized methods for maintaining records,
preventing their deterioration, and restoring those that have been damaged. Research on
conservation methods provides a better understanding of how records deteriorate, how
further deterioration can be prevented, and how deteriorated records can be most
effectively restored.
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Preserving our Endangered Heritage
The films, videos and sound recordings that constitute Canada's audio-visual heritage are
quickly deteriorating, disappearing or becoming inaccessible. The Task Force on the
Preservation and Enhanced Use of Canada's Audio-Visual Heritage, formed in 1994 under the
leadership of the National Archives of Canada to study this problem and recommend
realistic solutions, has just released its report entitled Fading
Away: Strategic Options to Ensure the Protection of and Access to our Audio-Visual Memory.
This report contains an across-Canada strategy developed by the concerned public and
private sectors, and follows an extensive consultation process. It favours cooperation,
decentralization, preventive conservation and an integrated, holistic view of the
management of heritage holdings. More precisely, it recommends the creation of a
Consortium of stakeholders and a shared responsibility for the identification and
safeguarding of the audio-visual heritage, an improved infrastructure for the storage and
preservation of audio-visual materials, a feasibility study on regional storage
facilities, and the creation of a unique centre for technical services for obsolete
formats. In addition, the report recommends the creation of a preservation fund and the
allocation of transitional resources through direct funding and cost-shared programs to
safeguard past and recent works and to better deal with technological changes in the
future.
This strategy for the preservation of and access to our audio-visual memory, recently
presented to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, is a significant contribution by Canada to
the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of cinema.
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