The “Max Stahl Audiovisual Centre for Timor-Leste” (CAMSTL) at Coimbra University

Current status and future improvements

Abstract

The Max Stahl Audiovisual Center holds information resources created in the context of decolonization, the invasion of Indonesia and independence of East Timor. This digital repository is installed in a matrix located in Dili and in a replica located at the University of Coimbra, opened in 2016, for the purpose of preserving and expanding the access to information. In this paper, we carried out a case study of the Coimbra repository, focusing on the following aspects: comparative analysis of data and/or descriptive metadata; data synchronization/update status; criteria for organizing and representing the information in the collections; backup control, preservation, and readability; framing of copyright and rights related to the use of images. Methodologically, the study was conducted through a bibliographical and document research, interviews and the direct observation of the requirements and application features included in the systems (backoffice and frontoffice). The main results describe the remarkable effort made in the context of the constitution and implementation of the platform and point out the continuity of activities started in the past, highlighting future actions focused on the following aspects: correction, standardization and enrichment of descriptive metadata, as well as classification and indexing to enhance the findability of resources and information retrieval; study and implementation of a bidirectional server synchronization; collection development. Conclusions pointed out these actions must be involved in curation and information preservation activities, with the inherent allocation of the right resources to carry out the intended tasks.