Archives Under Threat

The Library of Alexandria was the greatest repository of knowledge in the ancient world – until it was no more.

Archives, despite their seeming permanence, are not indestructible. Whether they burn down, are intentionally sabotaged, or simply fall victim to the ravages of disinterest and neglect, the physical stuff of archives remains vulnerable.

What do states, societies, communities, and individuals gain through preservation? What is lost when an archive disappears, becomes inaccessible, or falls into disuse? Conversely, what are the limits of archives, and what alternatives for memory persist even if they disappear?