Memoria Digital de Lanzarote, the digital documentation service for images and audiovisuals managed by the Data Center of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, has received a grant from the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Government to complete the "digitization and dissemination" of the photographic collection of the three major paper publications of the last decades on the Island: 'La Voz de Lanzarote', 'Lancelot', and the now-defunct 'Isla Informativa'.
Oswaldo Betancort detailed that "thanks to the collaboration of the Ministry, we will be able to carry out the digitization of photographic material from Lanzarote that will be part of the access portal to European Cultural Heritage." He also highlighted the role of the Cabildo in the conservation "by any means" of the archives that tell part of the Island's history.
In the same vein, the councilor responsible for the Data Center, Ascensión Toledo, emphasized that the Cabildo de Lanzarote is the "only Canary Island entity selected for this type of aid, as it complies with the norms and technical standards of IFLA" (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) and expressed her "satisfaction for achieving this progress and for the support that this grant represents for Memoria Digital de Lanzarote and for the Data Center itself."
The historical photographic archives of 'La Voz de Lanzarote', 'Lancelot' and 'Isla Informativa' are already being "guarded by the Cabildo", after the free transfer by the described media. From now on, we will proceed to "complete the "digitization and dissemination of almost 40,000 photographs" belonging to these funds. The amount of the project amounts to "25,000 euros" and must be "completed by the end of next year."
In addition, as will be recalled, all copies of these media and other historical press are also available for some time in the Jable digital repository of the ULPGC.
Agreement with the Historical Photography Archive of the Canary Islands
Also, these days an agreement has been signed between the Cabildo de Lanzarote and the Historical Photography Archive of the Canary Islands of the FEDAC, belonging to the Cabildo de Gran Canaria so that Memoria Digital de Lanzarote, which manages the Data Center of Lanzarote, collaborates with the archive of Gran Canaria in activities of recovery, dissemination and awareness of the photographic and audiovisual heritage of both islands and the Canary Islands in general, both in the Archipelago and outside of it.
Collaboration with the Canary Islands Film Library
The service of 'Memoria Digital de Lanzarote' also maintains its collaboration with the 'Filmoteca Canaria', belonging to the Ministry of Culture of the regional government. This body is responsible for the digitization of all amateur and domestic (non-professional) films that the 'Memoria Digital de Lanzarote' service has been collecting.
And at the moment we are working with "more than 70 films" of 8mm and super 8 mm that have been contributed by people and individuals who have this type of material, and who have given to the Island Council for free digitization. In this sense, the First Island Institution wants to make "a call to all those people who have this type of material (super 8 mm films, video, photographs, etc.) and want to digitize it", to contact the Data Center telephone (928 81 01 00 extension 3000) and in the email (datos1@cabildodelanzarote.com)