Francophonie ! Digital Preservation with a French Touch
YANNICK GRANDCOLAS
The digital preservation field predominantly relies on English-language resources and documentation, presenting significant challenges for the Francophone community. Factors like staff training and the utilization of accented characters in alphabets exacerbate these difficulties, warranting targeted solutions to enhance Francophone contributions to the global digital preservation discourse.

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, English has emerged as the lingua franca, shaping the discourse and dissemination of knowledge. Consequently, most technical discussions, guides, and scholarly articles pertinent to digital preservation are predominantly available in English. This linguistic hegemony poses barriers for Francophones seeking active engagement in digital preservation efforts. Language barriers not only impede comprehension and participation but also limit access to cutting-edge knowledge and practices within the field.

Addressing these challenges is imperative to ensure equitable representation and active involvement of the Francophone community in digital preservation endeavors. Efforts must be directed towards enhancing staff training by providing resources and professional development programs in the native language of Francophones. Additionally, unique challenges associated with utilizing alphabets containing accented characters must be acknowledged and resolved to facilitate effective data management and preservation in Francophone contexts.

The "birds of a feather" session presents a singular opportunity to convene the Francophone digital preservation community for face-to-face discussions. This gathering will enable participants to share experiences, address challenges, and exchange best practices in an environment conducive to collaboration and idea-sharing. By bringing together Francophone experts and practitioners in digital preservation, this session aims to strengthen community bonds and identify innovative solutions to overcome linguistic and technical barriers. Through collaborative efforts, we can ensure that the Francophone voice is fully heard and its contributions enrich the global digital preservation landscape during iPRES 2024.
communications and advocacy for dp from document to data