Decades ago, the raised land that is now in the middle of the Road Town Roundabout was surrounded by water. That fact was among many tidbits of information Orion Joseph learned as he helped digitise some of the territory’s records in recent days.
On Thursday, the BVI Library Services Department staff member showed a group of nearly 40 people how old documents can be photographed and preserved using a new digitiser.
The $25,000-plus machine was donated to the department by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. During a ceremony, Mormon leaders were present to officially hand it over to government officials.
In the past, when library customers needed old documents, the staff would have to search for the needed information using index cards, a process that could take hours, according to Mr. Joseph.
This will change, thanks in part to the new machine, he said.
Since the machine was installed, more than 900 public documents — including House of Assembly minutes, press releases, newspaper articles, funeral booklets and other files — have been scanned.
See the May 1, 2014 edition for full coverage.
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