The numeralization of the General Archives of India in Seville.

The system for the digitization of the General Archives of the (West) Indies in Seville is quite exemplary. It has been applied to old documents with their preservation and ease of access in mind. It makes for a better documentary and historic repository, being complemented by material from other archives. It is a materials management system, and a documentary management system for users, as well as a means of communication with digitized material. It is a pragmatic evolving scheme, which explains its success. One third of the documents are now used in digital form. The particular circumstances--the historical importance of the material, the celebration of the discovery of the (West) Indies, the notable patronage, and the participants, explain this challenge and associated satisfactory results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]