Durable storage of data and documentation

Preserving Digital Objects: Recurrent Needs and Challenges

Michael Lesk: Bellcore - Abstract

Keeping digital objects means copying, standards, and legal challenges. This is a process, not a single step. Libraries have to think of digital collection maintenance as an ongoing task. It is one that gets steadily easier per bit; last generation's difficult copying problem is now easy. However, the rise of more complex formats and much bulkier information mean that the total amount of work continues to increase. Our hope is that cooperation between libraries can reduce the work that each one has to do. [Full text - other publications]

Ensuring the Longevity of Digital Information

Jeff Rothenberg - Abstract

In this article, Jeff Rothenberg discusses the fragile nature of digitally recorded information and the numerous factors, technological and otherwise, that must be addressed if we are to ensure the continued accessibility of this information over time. [Full text as PDF]. If you do not have the PDF Reader, you can download it from the Adobe website.

See also: Avoiding Technological Quicksand: Finding a Viable Technical Foundation for Digital Preservation or download - by Jeff Rothenberg, January 1998

Digital preservation resources:

• The Time and Bits: Managing Digital Continuity

• Introduction to Metadata - Pathways to digital information

  • Articles on Metadata

  • Metadata Standards crosswalk

• PADI - Preserving Access to Digital Information (PADI - National Library of Australia)

Association of Research Libraries - ARL

The mission of the Association of Research Libraries is to shape and influence forces affecting the future of research libraries in the process of scholarly communication. ARL programmes and services promote equitable access to and effective use of recorded knowledge in support of teaching, research, scholarship and community service. The association articulates the concerns of research libraries and their institutions, forges coalitions, influences information policy development and supports innovation and improvement in research library operations.

Council on Library and Information Resources - CLIR

In collaboration with many associations, networks and scholarly societies, CLIR serves as a forum for change. The convening role is central to CLIR's mission. It brings together experts from around the country and around the world and asks them to turn their intelligence to the problems that libraries, archives and information organisations are facing as they integrate digital resources and services into their well established print-based environments.

• Section reports

• Into the future: - The film - Recent developments in digital archiving

Additional resources:

• Records and information management resource list

• Electronic records (a few links)

• Electronic storage media