Protecting history records vital

KEEPING significant national records for future use is something most tend to ignore.
This may seem trivial but something should be done to save PNG’s history records sitting inside the Lae archive building at Mangola street dating back to 1974 from being totally damaged.
Year after year, pleas from those tasked with the responsibility of taking care of the records, for a new building with its specific requirements has fallen on deaf eyes.
Surely, there is some funds parked away somewhere that can be used to protect the records.
We have witnessed changes from manual to electronic procedures in various aspects of life, and the same should be for that office.
Two years ago, The National reported that the building needed a refurbishment, cool room with specific lighting, computerised data storage, office equipment and proper fencing.
National Archives and Public Records Services was established in 1957 to ensure the efficient management of the records of the government of PNG throughout their lifecycle and the preservation of those public records of significant value for current and future use by the government and citizens of PNG and others.
It became part of the Office of Library and Archives Board (OLAB) in September 1993.
National Archives of Papua New Guinea is mandated by the Office of Libraries and Archives Act to be the official custodian of the government’s corporate memory.
There is one office in Port Moresby and a branch in Lae.
To put it simply, it is responsible for the permanent preservation of the nation’s records which are of national and historical significance. The biggest collection they have in custody is the government records – post-war and pre-Independence records of PNG as well as the current day to day government records.
The Lae branch is meant to cater for Government and administration files for Mamose and New Guinea Islands.
The Lae archive building has so much information in it, at stake –two repositories, catering for 1,080 cubic metres of government information files from 1954-1996.
Each repositories contain records for tax census registers, Kiap patrol reports, community, high, vocational and tertiary school reports, Works and Supply (ComWorks), Labour and Workers’ Compensation, Policy Planning and Research and records for Finance inspection, Department of Primary Industries (DPI), Forestry, local level government, Justice (criminal and coroner), Health, Welfare and Personnel Management.
That is a national treasure and a must keep, no matter what the circumstance is. These are evidence of historically significant events.
Most do not know the significance and value of information and record-keeping for future purposes.
Echoing the sentiments of senior archivist Julian Maki and it should be said out loud again is to progress into future, one needs to know their history and in terms of western knowledge and development, archives is where we will all find all necessary information to plan the future.
We owe a great debt to those who undertook to collect the information from scratch, and to the government of the time, who respected its importance, independence and crucial role in the scholarly and democratic life of the country.
Consistent funding and support for the work of state archives enables them to effectively manage and make archival records widely accessible, take advantage of evolving technologies, and foster innovative projects and research.
The rebuilding or refurbishment of all archive buildings must happen.
We understand it will be a massive effort, when the country is struggling, but remember no future is without a past.