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2022 Arizona Archives Summit-Why am I scanning this? That is the question. Access or Preservation?
The urge to create images of collection items is difficult to resist. Access online to collection items through a multitude of digital platforms has exploded. Researchers and the public can explore a wide variety of topics. The planning, description, capture, and organization of the digital files created varies from project to project and organization to organization. Quick access is created with minimal decision-making and basic processes. Permanent files result from careful project planning. Thoughtful and thorough capture, metadata creation, and ingest to a digital repository CAN result in permanent digital files. How do institutions determine the appropriate steps for scanning items so they do not create unstable or unsearchable digital objects — digital objects that will cost more to reorganize or access in the future. How do institutions determine what strategy is appropriate for their collections and audience?