Towards an open and accessible sound and audiovisual archives: Case study of Zimbabwe

Sound and Audio-visual archives are critical media for the storage and preservation of an institution’s or a country’s intellectual and cultural heritage. As the world moves towards knowledge economy, it becomes imperative for all countries to prioritise the proper management of sound and audio-visual archives as a way to preserve their cultural heritage for posterity. This paper will examine the strategies that are in place in Zimbabwe to facilitate easier access to sound and audio-visual archives, and will explore the dynamic nature of users coming from heterogeneous backgrounds in relationship to basic and digital literacy. It will also highlight the challenges that the country’s National Archives is encountering in the management of sound and audio-visual archives, and the factors that are impeding its proper management. In addition, this paper will evaluate the sustainability of providing access and will explore the prospects for migrating from traditional to online access. It will also address the aspect of collaboration through public and private sector partnership to facilitate wider and easier access to sound and audio archives.