Computerland wins library deal

By RICHARD PAMATATAU

Telecom's newly acquired subsidiary Computerland is already proving its worth by winning the National Library contract to help to digitise its content.

The Government has allocated $24 million to the library so it can ward off "digital amnesia", and protect the nation's documentary heritage for future generations.

National Library head Penny Carnaby says part of that project will see huge storage systems created to house New Zealand's trusted digital repository, and help stop the nation's digital memory being lost.

"Significant amounts of our thoughts, writing and publishing as a nation are now only ever in the electronic form - which is no less precious and no less fragile than its print counterpart - and it would be a real tragedy for this country if it was lost for the want of somewhere to store it."

The project will see the library work with many people involved in the collection of digital objects in sound, vision, and geospatial data.

"National Library cannot afford to ignore this problem. This funding positions New Zealand strategically to create the trusted digital repository now, so future generations don't face the 'digital dark ages'," Carnaby said.

Technical services manager Ray Norton said the library saw Computerland as a strategic partner for the next three years. He said the company showed an ability to quickly understand the emerging digital environment and the challenges that lay ahead.

Computerland's links to Telecom helped secure the library partnership.

"The strong links with Telecom will enable the library to advance its innovation in the digital sector by leveraging Computerland and Telecom's depth of technical expertise and exposure to many communities."

Norton said the library saw a preferred supply agreement with Computerland as a sensible business approach to lowering its total cost of ownership, increasing its technical capability, and providing effective responses to ensure business continuity.

The library uses Sun Microsystems' equipment commonly used by libraries and universities around the world.

Norton said the main machine was a Sun F12 server that could be upgraded in the future.

"Currently we have the capacity to store eight terabytes of data. There is the capability to convert the F12 to an F15 in future years."

Computerland and Telecom will supply Sun equipment for the next three years but it is expected other relationships will be formed.

Telecom's broadband services are expected to play a huge role in developing the strategic plan, as well as other digital products.

"As with broadband, the web is an important part of our future strategies for being able to offer New Zealanders fantastic service from their National Library," said Norton.

Over time the library would develop its web presence more.