INSTITUTIONAL ARCHIVES AND PRESERVATION OF VISUAL MEMORY IN THE AGE OF DIGITALIZATION: THE CASE OF DICLE UNIVERSITY

DİJİTALLEŞME ÇAĞINDA KURUMSAL ARŞİVLER VE GÖRSEL HAFIZANIN KORUNMASI: DİCLE ÜNİVERSİTESİ ÖRNEĞİ

Abstract

This study examines the digital transformation process of the Dicle University Press Archive, examining the necessity of preserving institutional archives in a digital environment and the importance of visual memory in promotional strategies. The deterioration and access difficulties that traditional physical archives face over time reveal the importance of digital transformation projects in terms of the sustainability of institutional memory. Within the scope of the study, applications for the digitalization of the Dicle University Press Archive and the technical infrastructure required by this process are detailed. Archive materials reflecting Dicle University's 50-year institutional accumulation are included in the scope of digitalization. The hardware and software used in the digital archiving process ensure the long-term preservation of the materials, while creating new opportunities that can be used as promotional materials on social media and web platforms. The study also emphasizes that the severe damage to the building where the Dicle University archive room is located after the earthquake centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023 reinforces the strategic importance of digital preservation projects. Digital archiving contributes to both the preservation of institutional memory and the development of a more effective promotional strategy. As a result, it has been stated that preserving visual memory in digital environment is a fundamental necessity not only for academic research but also for the sustainability of institutional identity and communication strategies.