A safeguard : the example of the UPCP in France

The UPCP (Union pour la culture populaire) is an organization which regroups many unions. Their aim is to protect a local and regional heritage like music, dance, language, etc... Those archives (orals or written) are preserved under the protection of the CERDO (Centre d'étude, de recherche et de documentation sur l'oralité). In France, the CERDO is a good example of oral archives and their management.
The archives collected by the UPCP are called " unreleased oral archives ". The UPCP recognizes that the definition could be woolly so a list was established :
- radio programmes with a media purpose.
- ethnologic, sociological and linguistic investigations : songs, musics, tales, lifetime stories which were recorded and collected for scientist documentation and/or for the wish to preserve an heritage.
- historical investigation : political speeches and debates.
- artistic creations which were recorded like concerts and plays.
Those archives are unique and precious. This is a way to preserve a part of our heritage, even if we are not from the region.  A know-how can enrich that we can call an oral heritage. It is about orality and exchange.
This safeguard raises also the question of medium. Archivists can use different media for oral archives : cylinders, records with a gramophone, magnetic bands and minidisc. The recording is analogical (cylinder and records) or digital (minidisc) or both (magnetic band). This point leads to another one : digitalization and data migration. Digitalization becomes necessary and inevitable for the safeguard. What we can listen today (a melody, a song or a speech) has to be preserved for the future. It is an heritage and a legacy from our society, our past, from people who shared their knowledge about a part of our culture. So the UPCP part is very important. It is always about choices : preserving or throwing away. But the stakes are  real in a society influenced by what  comes next, not what  was before. So those archives have to follow progress. Oblivion is like  sword of Damocles for them. Archivists and unions have to work hand in hand for the sake of this oral culture.
Of course, future hasn't to be denied. Technological progress involves a preparation for archivists and unions.

Flore-Hélène Fischer