Conclusions
12.1 The creation of digital information resources will aid the better conservation and management of the heritage, promote its understanding and enjoyment, and contribute to the development of culturally rich information for use on the networks. This is true whether the content of these resources consists in Sites and Monuments Records, library or museum catalogues, archival finding aids, manuscripts, sound recordings, records of species, digitised photographs, computer-aided designs, or Virtual Reality models of the built heritage or landscapes. Much of this material will be created by the retroconversion or digitisation of existing catalogues, natural and environmental records, photographs, audio recordings, and maps, but some will result from new initiatives to record our cultural and natural heritage. All these activities provide material which can be manipulated, selected, compared, and sorted in ways which would not be possible with either the originals or other non-digital surrogates. By concentrating funding for ICT on activities which unlock and promote access to, and understanding of, the heritage the HLF will contribute to the creation of products of lasting value. Response to these opportunities needs to be consistent, coherent, and driven by the information needs and opportunities rather than the technology.
12.2 Information technology plays an increasingly important role in the creation, storage, dissemination, and use of information in the developing information society. Technology is an enabling tool. The development of culturally rich information resources that will add value to the existing network services depend upon the judicious use of ICT. The policies recommended in this report will make it possible for the HLF to respond to the opportunities offered by information technology and to select ICT-based heritage projects for funding where ICT can contribute to the better conservation and management of the heritage and assist in its understanding, study, and enjoyment.