78s to 33s to 8 tracks to...

The pace of change in information technology is intense, and not only in things like the shift from print journals to article databases, but in all sorts of information, for example music. Raise your hand if you remember putting an 8 track player in your car, like the one pictured here ;-)

It's a huge challenge when you think about it, how to maintain and preserve all that information that perhaps now only exists in formats, like 8 track tapes, that are long out of date. The Library of Congress has a huge collection of such material, and is planning on expanding access to it, as well as maintaining it. This recent article from the LA Times will tell you more.