Crossing the print to digital rubicon : a documentary analysis of media migrations

Abstract

This paper presents a documentary analysis of the ongoing migrations from print to digital media, information, and communication technologies. It proposes that analyzing the documentation – that is documents and documentary practices – involved in the transition from print culture to digital culture presents a useful framework in which to situate other studies and discussions on the increasing digitalization of media, library, and information disciplines, professions, technologies, and practices. This paper provides a documentary lens in which to approach and understand the current ‘revolutionary’ transition from print culture to digital culture, stressing the significance of documentation in this migration. It presents and discusses a number of documentary definitions and theories from three noted documentalists: Michael K. Buckland, Bernd Frohmann, and David M. Levy. Applying a documentary approach to this transition will help show the resulting changes in the materiality of formats, relationships, organizations, institutions, and interactions in this new digital, or information, society.