I'm sorry, but no matter how adamantly or passionately Mr. Browning
argues for digitization, it is still based on incomplete information and
faulty reasoning.

Part of my duties involves educating students.  When I instruct students
and they refuse to listen, all I can do is give them an "F" and move on.
I guess this is what I'll have to do in this case.  If individuals
refuse to educate themselves on the subject then there is no point in
continuing the discussion.  Read the professional literature on the
subject and you will see that you are indeed wrong, Mr. Browning.  The
professionals in the field have determined that - at least for now - the
way to preserve materials is through microfilming.  Digitization is fine
for making documents accessible, but it is NOT the answer to long-term
preservation.  

And chiding the very fine folks who work at the Library of Virginia for
exercising their best professional judgment is not the answer either.
They have a difficult job as it is trying to preserve and make
accessible the commonwealth's history.  And when the General Assembly
cuts the LVAs budget and/or staff, an already difficult job becomes even
more so.

When archaeologists do as much reading and work in the archives field as
I have, maybe then I'll listen to what they have to say.  Until then,
I'm not interested in their opinions about archival preservation.    

Robert Vejnar

Archivist
Emory & Henry College Archives
Holston Conference Archives
P.O. Box 948
Emory, Virginia  24327-0948
276-944-6668 - office
276-944-4592 - fax
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