Quarter of audio tapes returns to Iceland after digitization in Belgium

A quarter of the audio tape collection belonging to the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV) has returned home after a lengthy year-long journey to Belgium and back. The tapes, which contain the only recordings of the radio’s broadcasts from 1950 to 2010, were sent for digital conversion, ensuring the preservation of these cultural assets.

Helga Lára Þorsteinsdóttir, the head of RÚV’s archive, expressed relief at the arrival of the tapes. They were packed and shipped in a container to Belgium a year ago for the digitization process. Upon their return to Efstaleiti, the RÚV staff is now busy organizing and cataloging the tapes once again.

While the tapes are safely stored in Efstaleiti, the playback equipment they require is no longer available, and sourcing spare parts for repairs poses a challenge. The oldest and most delicate tapes were not sent abroad, ensuring they remain intact within Iceland.

The digital copies have already been made accessible through RÚV’s database, allowing public access for listening sessions by appointment. The digitization project has made significant progress, covering about one-quarter of the entire tape collection, although many recordings from earlier years still remain solely on tape.

Collaborating with a Belgian company expedited the digital transfer process, which cost around thirty million Icelandic Krónur, with financial support from the Center for Digital Art and Humanities, part of an Infrastructure Fund. Helga highlighted that the pilot project has been successful, with hopes to continue this initiative to complete the digital transfer of the remaining collection, effectively preserving this important cultural heritage.