Towards a critical understanding of born-digital literary archives: insights from Franco Fortini's Collection

This chapter examines the evolution of personal archiving from physical to digital formats over the past two decades, highlighting the challenges of long-term preservation and accessibility. It discusses the transformation of activities like letter writing and photo sharing due to technology, emphasizing the overproduction and disorganization of digital documents. Critical issues such as data scattering, lack of appraisal, and awareness of digital preservation are explored. The chapter reviews research initiatives and institutions, particularly in the US and Italy, focusing on conferences, guidelines, and projects dedicated to personal digital archiving. It concludes by stressing the urgent need for preservation strategies and collaborative efforts to safeguard digital heritage for future generations.