What role does "digitization" play in the context of digital archives?

Digitization plays a crucial role in the context of digital archives by converting analog materials into digital formats. This process involves transforming non-digital information, such as photographs, documents, audio recordings, and videos, into a digital format that can be stored, accessed, and preserved more easily.

The significance of digitization in digital archives cannot be overstated; it enables the long-term preservation of materials that are at risk of deterioration, loss, or damage. Additionally, digitization facilitates wider access to archival resources, allowing users to remotely access and engage with materials that might otherwise be difficult to reach. By converting physical items into digital files, institutions can enhance the discoverability and availability of their collections to a broader audience, supporting research and education.

Furthermore, the process of digitization typically goes hand in hand with the creation of metadata, which helps to organize and describe the newly created digital files. However, digitization itself is primarily about the conversion of formats rather than focusing on metadata management, access rights, or marketing. These other aspects are important in the overall framework of digital archives but do not define the primary function of digitization.