The collections of memory institutions, such as libraries, museums, and archives, promote access to knowledge, education, and culture, in addition to preserving memory and identity. The development of digital technologies allows these collections to be disseminated and reach wider audiences – ultimately breaking all geographical boundaries. That is the subject of the book ‘Memórias Digitais: o estado da digitalização de acervos no Brasil’ [Digital Memories: the current status of digitizing collections in Brazil], released by FGV Press.

Organized by Bruna Castanheira de Freitas and Mariana Giorgetti Valente, the publication stems from a project by the Center for Technology and Society (CTS) of FGV’s Rio de Janeiro Law School (Direito Rio), breaking down the four key issues concerning the digitization of collections in Brazil: technology, standards, and metadata; law; institutional policies; and funding. In this context, the book presents the main challenges for digitizing collections, through papers written by renowned professionals who work with memory institutions, across multiple spheres and relevant international experiences. Among other topics, the book addresses questions about the financing of collections, copyright, public policies for digitization, and preservation of collections.

As experts in their respective fields, the authors compiled in the book promote in-depth debate regarding the hardships and benefits, as well as the need to enhance the digital prospect of culture repositories. Overcoming these challenges will pave the way towards the democratization of access to knowledge.

Bruna Castanheira de Freitas is a PhD candidate in public policy, strategies, and development at UFRJ and researcher at Direito Rio’s CTS, where she leads studies on intellectual property and new technologies. Mariana Giorgetti Valente holds a Master’s degree and is a PhD candidate at USP. She was the legal coordinator of the Museum of Modern Art of São Paulo and a professor of Intellectual Rights at Direito Rio. She is currently Director at InternetLab, a research center on human rights and technology.

Go to the website for more information, in Portuguese, on the book.