Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
2022
Abstract
Purpose
Cultural heritage digitization facilitates the preservation of culturally valuable objects, entities, or items into a digital form allowing more comprehensive and concurrent access to such objects. It becomes more significant for overcoming the constraints associated with physical access, especially during turmoil, disasters, and pandemics like COVID-19, where physical interactions are almost restricted. Covid-19 restrictions and resultant social distancing protocols impacted nearly every facet of human life. Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums, and heritage sites across the globe were also affected as they were closed for the general public.
Therefore, the study explores the importance of making diverse cultural heritage information available online and accessible to the broader user community and provisions for data security through proper backups, setting user privileges, and maintaining necessary updates.
Design/Methodology/Approach
The study selected Pasargadae world heritage site in Iran as the study area by analyzing the database maintained and available for consultation. Further, the study attempts to highlight the advantages associated with the digitization of cultural items, including manuscripts, images, monuments, sites, etc. It also highlights prerequisites for managing such information online effectively using digitization.
Findings
Given the state of cultural heritage in Iran, digitization is still in the infancy stage. It is necessary to develop well-equipped policies, technological infrastructures, including high-speed internet, scanning machines, high-resolution digital cameras, and servers with high capacity processing for digitization. Besides, adequate funding and significant management concerns are needed to address various ethical and privacy issues, including copyright concerns associated with Iran’s cultural heritage digitization process.
Originality/value
The work is a thorough attempt towards surveying Pasargadae world heritage site to understand the basic requirements for creating an online information delivery portal through the digitization of rich cultural heritage sites for enabling access even in virtual mode.