Digital Archaeology for Obsolete Media

Libraries and archives are discovering that valuable files—sometimes from major figures—are trapped on formats like floppy disks that modern systems can’t read. Recovering them requires scarce hardware, legacy software, and emulation know‑how, turning preservation into a race against physical decay and technical obsolescence. — It underscores that public memory now depends on building and funding 'digital archaeology' capacity, with standards and budgets to migrate and authenticate born‑digital heritage before it is lost.