The role of the National Library of Spain in the preservation and digitalization of sound heritage

Abstract

The mission of the National Library of Spain is to conserve and disseminate the Spanish documentary heritage in all media. Probably safeguarding sound recordings and oral memory is the task that poses the greatest number of problems to heritage institutions, which archives them, because they should not only keep the document itself, but what is contained in them. The collection of sound recordings of the National Library of Spain amounts to about 600,000 documents, from old piano rolls, wax cylinders, magnetic tapes, vinyl records, slate discs, etc., to the most modern digital media recordings . The digitalization and preservation of musical sound recordings and Word Archives is one of the priority objectives of the collection management policy, due to the fragility of the documents and the obsolescence of the devices that reproduce them. To this is added the current challenge of assuming as a heritage library the incorporation of any type of physical and virtual sound document into its collections, in addition to the collection and conservation of web pages, respecting the legal framework that affects them collaboration with producers, distributors and digital distribution platforms, will allow the BNE to continue its primary role of collecting, preserving and disseminating patrimonial sound documents and undisputed members of the Spanish cultural heritage. Hence, the library actively participates in the changes proposed in the new Spanish Historical Heritage law, so that these types of documents have more specific and comprehensive recognition and protection under the law.