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Email library to preserve modern life for future generations
Last updated at 10:52am on 03.05.07
Library: emails reflecting modern life will be preserved
Millions of emails are to be stored at the British Library in a unique project to preserve present day communications for future generations.
Computer giant Microsoft is joining forces with the library to collect a million entries for the "email Britain" archive.
Emails have become the main form of communication for many people, and the idea is to capture blunders, complaints, humour, romance among other areas.
John Tuck, head of British Collections at the British Library, said: "Email has in many respects replaced traditional forms of communications such as letters or memoranda, thousands of examples of which we have at the British Library.
"In the digital age, email has become prevalent in our day-to-day lives.
"Email Britain will allow us to archive a vast snapshot of our present-day email communications and will be of great value for future researchers.
"Digital archiving of email has never been attempted before on this scale and we're very excited to be capturing such a rich slice of contemporary life."
Jo Wickremasinghe, Campaign Manager at Windows Live Hotmail said: "We're trying to illustrate how integral email has become to our everyday lives.
"Mini soap operas are played out in inboxes across the country every day, from job offers to wedding proposals, big breaks to break-ups. We want this unique archive to make absorbing reading for years to come."
People are being asked to forward an email to email@emailbritain.co.uk from their inbox or "sent" mail that represents life as they see it today.
Reader views (5)
It will be filled with spam in 5 hours. That should provide an accurate sampling of our "in boxes".
- Kevin, New York, USA, 03/05/2007 18:48
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I think this is a great oppurtunity for our future generations. I would be fascinated to read what people would have said 500 years ago and I think people will appreciate this project in the future. It is also a good way to express your opinions, make your mark (whether small or big) on your world.
- Amy, Virginia Beach, USA, 03/05/2007 18:45
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I don't think that the collection will be a good gauge of everyday email. I believe people will only forward things of interest that they want other people to read in the future. They are not going to forward anything not of interest, which in my experience is 95% of my email. Also they are not going to submit anything that is embarrassing. The only way to get an accurate gauge of "everyday" email would be to take people's email at random without their permission...which I'm sure is already happening
- Luke, USA, 03/05/2007 18:02
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I can just imagine the drama-filled emails that will be forwarded without the owners' consent. Yes, I would love to see my personal life saved for future generations.
- Naomi, Beijing, China, 03/05/2007 16:35
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As ever, it is fantastically reassuring to know my taxes are being spent wisely.
- Jay, London, 03/05/2007 13:37
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