focus guest editor s ’ in t r o duc tion Agility and Architecture: Can They Coexist?

Broadcast archives are hugely interesting, and very much at risk – but somehow conferences on archive preservation technology tend to be a line-up of engineers showing powerpoint about 'technical architecture' and metadata in XML. Christoph Bauer of ORF, who is not only an archive technologist but also has produced TV programmes – decided to 'produce' a PrestoSpace event: Prestospace to the Rescue. A damsel in distress (or 'audiovisual archivist in agony and anxiety') would be in peril of losing her audiovisual content – owing to deterioration (of the media, not the damsel) or obsolescence (of the formats, not the damsel). In addition, much of the content was too fragile to be handed directly to the public – and so the collection had poor access. In fact, there was a crisis – get the collection known, used and preserved – or get out of town! At a marvellous venue in Vienna, 45 people [Prestospace specialists, audiovisual archive students, archivists, consultants and service providers representing 12 companies, 4 colleges and 13 archives from 15 countries] came together to play out this modern 'Perils of Pauline'. The archivist wasn't strapped to the rails with a train approaching – but she was " strapped for cash " , with deterioration and obsolescence bearing down, and a heartless overseer lowering over her, demanding access. In fact, demanding access for everyone – and free – and 24 hours per day every day – and via the Internet. It's more than a poor self-respecting archivist can bear! With the opening theme music and the roll of the opening title frame, Christoph Bauer (ORF) kicked off the Prestospace to the Rescue workshop, May 14th and 15 th in Vienna. Karin Westerink, (B&G) gave a brilliant performance as an archivist from " a small regional archive situated somewhere in the heart of Europe " , helping all present remember that planning and running a bulk digitisation project is not something you just start one afternoon over coffee with your colleagues! It all started when Karin was first asked about her " problem ". " What problem? " she asked. Oh, her manager told her that her material had to be made available over the internet. Well, what sort of material did she have? " I don't know, we can't play any of the tapes, we don't have the machines. And well, we have some card files somewhere. The man …