Pandora is the National Library of Australia’s web archive, a service similar to the Internet Archive. Unlike the Internet Archive, which aims to be comprehensive in its preservation, Pandora is discerning. It’s purpose is to archive web sites that are
- about Australia
- are by an Australian author on a subject of social, political, cultural, religious, scientific or economic significance and relevance to Australia
- are by an Australian author of recognised authority and make a contribution to international knowledge.
An example of a weblog archived by Pandora is Web Diary, a weblog originally written by Margo Kingston for the Sydney Morning Herald. Over time it established its own identity and Kingston set off on her own. Today Web Diary is written by others, but Pandora continues to archive it and make it available through the Trove search engine.
If you have a web project that you think should be accessible for posterity, just ask and the government stakeholders will consider your site for inclusion. But remember — your words will live forever, so choose them carefully.
Cool, thanks for the reference. Although, I find the image of Pandora – especially her box – an unusual choice because I always thought it to symbolise evil?
Hi Josh,
It’s actually a cutesy acronym: Preserving and Accessing Networked Documentary Resources of Australia. Ahem. Possibly it’s also a wry comment on the nature of web content? Or perhaps NLA think that the Pandora myth is a patriarchal slur in need of revision — Pandora as preserver, who keeps copies of all the good in the world in a box, from where she can dispense them to all who ask?