File formats conversion issues in digital libraries

The issue of file format conversion is critical in the realm of digital libraries. In fact, a digital library can include text, still images, audio, video, digital documents, or other digital media formats. These digital objects are encoded in the most diverse file formats, but they are eventually doomed to become obsolete (and in some cases have already done so). As a result, the challenge of identifying when file format conversion is required, which formats to choose for conversion, and which approaches to apply from an operational standpoint begins to emerge. However, while being theorized as one of the most successful digital preservation solutions, format conversion has yet to be sufficiently practiced. Even when the need to transfer digital objects from an obsolete format to a more modern format is adequately felt, the process is often delayed due to a lack of knowledge and expertise, as well as a lack of clear and precise guidelines and advice on how the conversion should be carried out, including technical-operational methods. This paper attempts to address this problem by emphasizing the rationale for format conversion (Why), the circumstances under which it must occur (When), and the methods by which it can be done (How), citing both international norms and guidelines and the Italian "Guidelines on the creation, management, and preservation of electronic documents," published by the Italian Agency for Digital Government.