Talk

Living Libraries Salon

Galleri BOA

Nov. 12th – 12am, 2014

In the second Salon event hosted to launch the new BOA library containing artists publications, catalogues and writing the event will explore the theme of Living Libraries, exploring the role of a library or archive in the digital era. The discussion will open up for conversation how we can animate and re-invigorate these archival spaces beyond their traditional role of compilation. The event will also examine importance of both digital and the non-digital material being produced in the arts sector and how to store this material and keep it constantly alive and available for both present and future generations.

Since the start of the digital era libraries and archives have become one of the many resources that have changed dramatically. Information that was once only available through going to the physical place, where the information was held, is now located on the internet, in your living room, work place, bedroom, at the tap of a keyboard. Archives are becoming digitised so that the consumer now need only know the website of the collection they are wishing to look at. This process is happening for many reasons, one of which is the rate that material held in archives is now deteriorating. Preservation techniques can only extend life, but there comes a point when the material seeking to be preserved can no longer be consumed in its original format as it has come too far in its ageing. The digitalisation of this material is yet another step in the process of keeping the material alive.

Libraries, archives and collections are having to find new ways to interact with audiences from all generations. By opening the door to what a library, archive, collection, can be the physical space and content can be opened up to those beyond the initial presumed consumers. The salon event will address questions ranging from the relevance of the library today, what would we lose if there were no library, what can we gain from physical experience, does the library or archive really have to fight, is there room for a digital and non-digital experience, where do we go from here.

Organizer	Amelia Beavis-Harrison
Website	billedkunstnerneioslo.no
Address	Oslo, Norway