Concept of Digital Graphics in Preserving Documents

Having used the digital graphics, the description of the informational material are easily understood.  It is a tool to enhance the understanding of information that is presented.  Displaying digital graphics will make it easy for viewers to visualize and grasp the idea that is presented. This blog consists of images and texts  that are produced or created  in other formats such as Photoshop (PSD) or Words.  Other way is by scanning the images before uploading it. Using video to explain the process also will enhance the interest of viewers.   It is all then are added to blog by the default command.

Precedent Studies

The precedent study was undertaken the design and interface of the NAM's web.  It is categories as a "formal" web which contains everything of that of NAM. The use of video in presenting the functions involving NAM is good in attracting the attention of the viewers. However, considering the subject area which is "preservation" and how the NAM do the preservation, it is not "much there to gain and see".

With this, for those who are interested in preserving their own invaluable documents, such as own family historical documents, they can start of by learning the process to preserve documents in a proper way. The topic of preservation is actually an interested topic to be explained and make well known to Malaysians as it can give some ideas to the Malaysians what should they do with any archives that they keep.  Aware the importance of this topic may lead them to protect, preserve and conserve whatever achieves materials that they have at home.  Knowing the technique to bind may help them prolong the "life" of the archives and if the preservation and conservation awareness are in their mind, they may think of giving it away to NAM as a safe place to maintain and preserve the archives so that it can be used for future generations.

Due to that, the simple informational way of delivering the information is vital, so that it will attract the people, especially the youngsters, to get to know NAM. Having the interactive information of the content, through blog, may simplify the understanding of the topic of preservation.

For the researchers, promotions of the NAM need to be broadly done. Not only should there be advertisement when there is a joint function of the NAM and other government agencies, but also every now and then it must be promoted. The joint venture with RTM will help promoting NAM.

Gantt Chart

Here is the Gantt Chart for the project.

Proposal

Binding the Books to Preserve it

Book can be called a documented record.  People may own books that had priceless values, that they want to keep for future use.  It also could be personal diaries, collection of cutting newspapers, personal records and many others that needed to be preserved properly.

This blog will present how and why learning to binding books is an important issue.  The National Archives Malaysia (NAM)  is chose to be a place to learn the process of binding.  Why NAM? NAM plays an important role in preserving the national documents, the "treasures" for future references.  It has a section which has expertise in the  process of preserving them. Though there is a website for the NAM, http://www.arkib.gov.my/home, the information on those preservation is not fully presented.

Goal and Objectives : 

1. To produce an interactive informational blog on binding
2. To identify the important of learning to bind as a way of preserving documents or books.
3. To acknowledge the important of NAM in preserving national documents.

Target audience : 

1. Students and librarians
2. Teachers (Art teachers may use the process of "binding" the books as part of their teaching topic)
3. Researchers
4. Those who are interested in preserving own historical documents (conservators).

Issues and Treatments : 

Having interviewed 20 people, only 15 said that they knew NAM and of that 5 knew a little bit of the function of it and 2 knew well about it. Though this survey may not be a reliable source, due to limited time, I would say that it is sad that not many Malaysians know about the important of this place as it is actually the TREASURES of the Malaysia Government Records. The records of Malaysian’s history such as the scroll of the Proclamation of Independence 1957 and Jawi Peranakan Newspaper 1888 are well kept here. The preservation and conservation of these archive materials are as important as preserving of the archeological heritage.

As to this, it is hope that this blog will be an agent to popularize archival heritage and raise the awareness of Malaysian citizens especially those youngsters to manipulate and use NAM as the vital reference place to get the first hand information of Malaysian achieves. 



References:

1. Arkib Negara Malaysia. Retrieved from http://www.arkib.gov.my/home
2. Interviewed staff of National Archives of Malaysia
3. Interviewed public about NAM and its function

Mind Mapping

Mind Mapping of Treasure the Books by Preserving it.

Project 1

This project 1 is about developing an informational interactive blog.  It is going to display about the importance of preserving the documents and display some conservation way of binding process done by the National Archives Malaysia (NAM).