Government proposal to digitise wills (and destroy originals after 25 years)

[MollyC]

Survival has been a matter of chance until recent decades.  Accidents occurred because there was no storage in a controlled environment.  We can now drastically reduce deterioration: ink fading, paper rotting, fires.  Paper is very durable if correctly stored.  Magnetic media and microfilms also require correct storage, with slightly different optimum conditions, but take less space.   

Some early microfilms are not the best quality, but cannot be re-filmed or scanned if the originals have been destroyed.  Microfilms are not "digitalised", but digital images of films have been produced more recently, two steps from the original.  Infra-red techniques are best applied to the original.  The British Library is now scanning all its newspapers, previously microfilmed, but not seeking to destroy them.  There are still sections of print which are difficult to read.  At least they are protected by being within a copyright deposit collection.

The argument is reduced to cost, how much the nation wishes to invest in its history.  Compare the budget with other functions of government.  Buildings and battlefields create more public emotion.  Short termism in this sphere is irrecoverable. 

[coombs]

Quite a few 1538-1754 parish registers have not survived, or have gaps in them, although some of these missing records can be filled in by bishops transcripts. Some originals and BT's did not survive Hitlers bombs, or damp and mould, rats over the years while laying in the vestry for decades or centuries. Even some gaps are found in 1754 onwards registers. Burnham On Crouch in Essex has some 1764-1775 marriage missing due to a fire.

[Bookbox]

If you oppose the proposals to destroy the original post-1858 wills, and if you are a British citizen or UK resident, please consider signing the House of Commons petition, and please share with others.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/654081

[GrahamH]

If you oppose the proposals to destroy the original post-1858 wills, and if you are a British citizen or UK resident, please consider signing the House of Commons petition, and please share with others.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/654081

I was amused by point number 1 saying "We think costs of digital preservation and storage could be astronomical." yet the petitioner has not even attempted to address the costs of continuing to preserve the originals (as if it will be free).

[MollyC]

A relevant article about the ongoing consequences of the hacking of the British Library's IT system.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/news/totally-and-utterly-bereft-the-devastating-repercussions-of-the-british-library-cyber-attack/ar-AA1mOW8s

Readers cannot access anything at St. Pancras; disturbing to find the system is so integrated that it affects access to lending material held at Boston Spa, Yorkshire and also staff personal records. They will have back-ups, but not simple to use when the system has a melt-down.  The cost is estimated at £6 to £7 million.

[Bookbox]

The petition now has over 6000 signatures, from British citizens all over the world. If you can, please sign and help us to reach 10,000.

If you oppose the proposals to destroy the original post-1858 wills, and if you are a British citizen or UK resident, please consider signing the House of Commons petition, and please share with others.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/654081

[Andy J2022]

Here's Dave Annal's comment on the subject:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPq_v66YWQI
For anyone who isn't familiar with Dave Annal, his is the steady voice of reason on all matters to do with genealogy, based on years of experience.