Digital imaging for preservation

I am a grad student in the Geography Department at the University of
Western Ontario. I am currently working on a master's thesis about
applications of digital technology to the preservation of colour
maps.  I use the word preservation loosely, as I realize that for
several very good reasons the digital format is *not* a recognized
archival medium.  I am, however, arguing the case that since digital
technology can increase access and decrease handling of the fragile
originals, it is a viable alternative to other, more traditional
methods.

My problem is this: most of the literature that I have found on the
topics of conservation/preservation in general, and digital
preservation in specific, have argued both cases quite successfully.
I mean, the authors are too polite; they seem to be tippy-toeing
around the issues, as if they are afraid of offending someone.  I
suspect, however, that feelings run a little deeper than that.  I
would like to get the opinions of some people who aren't worried
about pleasing their publishers, as it were (being a soon-to-be
first-time published author myself, I know what that feels like).

P. Andrew Ray
Department of Geography
University of Western Ontario

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 9:56
                Distributed: Thursday, January 25, 1996
                        Message Id: cdl-9-56-013
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