Preserving History: Why Digitisation Matters for Archives & Museums
For archives, libraries, and museums, preserving old tapes, films, and media is more than a task—it’s a responsibility to protect cultural history. Historical footage holds stories, moments, and insights into our past that can’t be replaced.
Digitising this content ensures that it’s not only preserved from physical deterioration but also made more accessible for future generations.
Why Digitise Historical Footage?
Preservation: Old tapes and films naturally degrade. Digitisation locks in quality and prevents further damage.
Accessibility: Once digitised, footage can be easily searched, shared, and displayed—online or in exhibitions.
Restoration: Digital tools allow for colour correction, audio clean-up, and the removal of dust and scratches.
Searchability: Metadata and indexing make digital archives simple to navigate.
Best Practices for Historical Digitisation
1. Assess and Catalogue Your Media
Condition Check: Identify media at risk of damage.
Create a Log: Record the format, content details, and dates of each item.
2. Use High-Quality Equipment
Professional playback devices and scanners preserve every possible detail.
Choose long-term friendly file formats like MP4 (video) and TIFF (images).
3. Handle With Care
Always dust off media before use and handle it with gloves.
Avoid forcing jammed tapes or reels.
4. Index and Add Metadata
Include dates, subjects, and context.
Organise files into folders by category, date, or event.
5. Quality Control and Backups
Double-check every file for accuracy and clarity.
Keep multiple backups—in different physical or cloud locations—for safety.
6. Create Access for Public or Team Use
Build an online digital library or internal archive.
Add digitised content to interactive museum displays, school resources, or public history projects.
Real-World Success Stories
📽️ The National Archives (UK)
They’ve digitised millions of historical records, making them publicly available online and preserving them for future generations.
🎞️ Smithsonian Institution
By digitising rare footage, they’ve protected decades of cultural material and enhanced access for researchers and the public.
📼 British Film Institute (BFI)
The BFI continues to digitise and restore early films, helping preserve Britain’s cinematic history.
Let Video Rescue Help You Preserve What Matters
At Video Rescue, we specialise in high-quality digitisation of historical footage, film, slides, and audio for museums, councils, historical societies, and personal collectors.
Whether you’re preserving public records, family archives, or museum exhibits, we offer trusted services to digitise and protect them—safely and professionally.
📍 Drop off in Brisbane
📦 Mail in your media
💾 Receive your content on USB, DVD, or hard drive
👉 Contact us today to start preserving your historical footage for the future.
