The Arts and Humanities Data Service
Preserving Digital Collections:current methods and
researchNeil Beagrie
Funded by the Joint Information Systems Committee
Overview
� growth of electronic records� A Strategic Policy Framework for Creating
and Preserving Digital Collections Neil Beagrie and Daniel Greenstein
� pro-active programmes � collaboration� new approaches� legal issues
� what you can do� further information
Growth of Electronic Records
Computer Disk Storage after Michael Lesk
http://www.gii.getty.edu/timeandbits/ksg.html
� In the USA it is estimated that 75% of federal government transactions will be electronic by 2000 AD
� 1.5 kilometers of paper records transferred to PRO each year:estimated 95% originate from electronic source
Awareness & Preparation
� Digital Preservation Needs and Requirements in RLG Member Institutions M.Hedstrom and S. Montgomery Dec 1998 http://www.rlg.org/preserv/digpres.html
The Study
� One of seven digital preservation studieshttp://www.ukoln.ac.uk/services/elib/papers/supporting/
� life-cycle(“continuum”) of a digital resource and preservation
� policy framework� Desk-top survey and 15 interviews with archives,
libraries and museums� 5 Case studies, best practice guidelines,
resources and other studies
The Framework
� Framework based on the life-cycle of a resource» creation (planning and implementation)» management and preservation» use» legal & business environment
� Documents relationship and dependencies� identifies involvement of different stakeholders
with any one resource
The Case Studies
� Funding agencies � digitisers � data banks � institutional archives � academic archives � legal deposit/copyright libraries
Pro-active programmes
� NERC Data Policy http://www.nerc.ac.uk/environmental-data/#DATAPOLICY
� EROS (Electronic Records In Office Systems)http://www.pro.gov.uk/recordsmanagement/eros/
» records management guidelines» records process:appraisal pilot projects» long-term transfer and access strategy
� AHDS/AHRBhttp://ahds.ac.uk http://www.ahrb.ac.uk/
» joint C&IT Policy» Guidance for depositors and data creators
Collaboration
� international efforts
DLM-FORUM http://www2.echo.lu/dlm/en/home.html
» publications & training programme» legal implications» information for the citizen
� TASI (JISC Technical Advisory Service for Images)
» Building Image Archives (data capture and creation, data access and delivery, data collections management)
http://www.tasi.ac.uk/
New approaches
� digital preservation methods: » migration» emulation » technology preservation
� “bundling” and technical metadata
New approaches
� BSI Digital IDT/1/4 � Universal Preservation Format (UPF)
» http://info.wgbh.org/upf/
� “Rosetta Stone” conceptual model» http://www.ercim.org/publication/ws-
proceedings/DELOS6/index.html
Legal issues
� copyright� confidentiality and data protection� licensing and contract law� public records legislation� Preserving the U.S. Government's White House Electronic Mail:
Archival Challenges and Policy Implications David Wallace
http://www.ercim.org/publication/ws-proceedings/DELOS6/index.html
What you can do
� Increase awareness Into the Future: On the Preservation of Knowledge in the Electronic
Age http://www.clir.org/programs/otheractiv/intro.html
� develop collections policy� pro-active programmes - early involvement � collaborate� continuous professional development
Where to get more information
A Strategic Policy Framework for Creating and Preserving Digital Collections
Neil Beagrie and Daniel Greenstein
� website- <http://ahds.ac.uk/manage/framework.htm>
� published by JISC as Elib Supporting Study No. P3 by Library Information Technology Centre, South Bank University,
London 1998, ISBN 1 900508 47 8, 78 pages £20 � also as BLRIC Report No 107 on demand photocopy or
microfilm � email list - AHDS-ALL (send email message: join ahds-
all [first name] [last name] to [email protected]