Namibia, German collaborate to preserve historical archives
A two-day workshop on records, preservation, conservation, and restoration practices kicked off on Tuesday as part of a partnership agreement between Germany's Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg and the National Archives of Namibia.
During the opening session, Gerard Vries, acting executive director of the ministry of education, said the preservation of records has become more critical in today’s digital age.
“As such, there is a need for better records management systems for us to ensure that vital records are preserved for the continuity of business and for future generations. The change in the information landscape calls for everyone who deals with records in any institution to be aware of how to manage records effectively and take records management seriously,” he said.
Custodians of history
Vries added that there is also a need to foster a culture of good record management and streamline and standardise processes, as this will improve accountability.
“As for our records managers and custodians of our nation’s history, this era calls for you to be resilient and ensure that records of national importance are not lost to time, negligence or unforeseen disasters."
The workshop started with in-house training for National Archives of Namibia staff members on 30 October, site visits to the archives in Germany, and donations of acid-free boxes to the National Archives.
Learning together
According to Professor Wolfgang Zimmermann, a representative of the state archives of Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, since the start of the Namibia-German cooperation in 2020, they have achieved a great deal together.
“A functional restoration centre has been set up here; together, we have thought a lot about the preservation of records and trained in practical procedures during two visits from you in Germany," he said.
He emphasised that, in addition to the practical aspects, "we have learned a lot from each other about Namibia and Germany, not only about the work opportunities in our archives but also about the painful period of genocide against the Nama and Ovaherero by the German colonial troops in the early 20th century.”
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During the opening session, Gerard Vries, acting executive director of the ministry of education, said the preservation of records has become more critical in today’s digital age.
“As such, there is a need for better records management systems for us to ensure that vital records are preserved for the continuity of business and for future generations. The change in the information landscape calls for everyone who deals with records in any institution to be aware of how to manage records effectively and take records management seriously,” he said.
Custodians of history
Vries added that there is also a need to foster a culture of good record management and streamline and standardise processes, as this will improve accountability.
“As for our records managers and custodians of our nation’s history, this era calls for you to be resilient and ensure that records of national importance are not lost to time, negligence or unforeseen disasters."
The workshop started with in-house training for National Archives of Namibia staff members on 30 October, site visits to the archives in Germany, and donations of acid-free boxes to the National Archives.
Learning together
According to Professor Wolfgang Zimmermann, a representative of the state archives of Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, since the start of the Namibia-German cooperation in 2020, they have achieved a great deal together.
“A functional restoration centre has been set up here; together, we have thought a lot about the preservation of records and trained in practical procedures during two visits from you in Germany," he said.
He emphasised that, in addition to the practical aspects, "we have learned a lot from each other about Namibia and Germany, not only about the work opportunities in our archives but also about the painful period of genocide against the Nama and Ovaherero by the German colonial troops in the early 20th century.”
- [email protected]
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