Videotapes Are Becoming Unwatchable As Archivists Work To Save Them. NPR: All Things Considered. Scott Greenstone. June 3, 2017.
Research suggests that magnetic tapes, like video tapes, aren't going to live beyond 15 to 20 years, sometimes called the "magnetic media crisis." Magnetic information on tapes will slowly fade, and when it diminishes too much, the information on the tape will be lost. There are groups trying to migrate the tapes before the content is unrecoverable. Part of this process is to identify what is on the tapes and which tapes need to be preserved long term.
Thursday, June 08, 2017
Friday, June 02, 2017
Ex Libris joins the Open Preservation Foundation
Ex Libris joins the Open Preservation Foundation. Becky McGuinness. Press Release. Open Preservation Foundation. June 1, 2017.
The Open Preservation Foundation announced that Ex Libris is its newest charter member. "Ex Libris’ Rosetta is an end-to-end digital asset management and preservation solution for libraries, archives, museums and other institutions, enabling institutions to safely and securely collect, manage, publish, deliver, and ensure longevity for digital information of many different types. With Rosetta’s unique content preservation planning module and its Format Library knowledge base, shared by the entire Rosetta community, institutions can identify format risks, evaluate mitigation alternatives, and select the best preservation actions." "Rosetta reflects Ex Libris involvement in industry standards and commitment to extensibility and open architecture." "Rosetta itself is based on an open architecture that allows customers to easily use Rosetta with external tools and plugins such as JHOVE and other open-source software. By supporting OPF, we can further improve open-source tools for the benefit of all."
The Open Preservation Foundation announced that Ex Libris is its newest charter member. "Ex Libris’ Rosetta is an end-to-end digital asset management and preservation solution for libraries, archives, museums and other institutions, enabling institutions to safely and securely collect, manage, publish, deliver, and ensure longevity for digital information of many different types. With Rosetta’s unique content preservation planning module and its Format Library knowledge base, shared by the entire Rosetta community, institutions can identify format risks, evaluate mitigation alternatives, and select the best preservation actions." "Rosetta reflects Ex Libris involvement in industry standards and commitment to extensibility and open architecture." "Rosetta itself is based on an open architecture that allows customers to easily use Rosetta with external tools and plugins such as JHOVE and other open-source software. By supporting OPF, we can further improve open-source tools for the benefit of all."
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Design Requirements for Better Open Source Tools
OSS4Pres 2.0: Design Requirements for Better Open Source Tools. Heidi Elaine Kelly. bloggERS! April 25, 2017.
Free and Open Source Software need to "integrate easily with digital preservation institutional systems and processes.” The FOSS Development Requirements Group created a design guide for to ensure easier adoption of open-source tools and their integration with other software and tools.
Minimum Necessary Requirements for FOSS Digital Preservation Tool Development. The premise is that "digital preservation is an operating system-agnostic field."
Necessities
Free and Open Source Software need to "integrate easily with digital preservation institutional systems and processes.” The FOSS Development Requirements Group created a design guide for to ensure easier adoption of open-source tools and their integration with other software and tools.
Minimum Necessary Requirements for FOSS Digital Preservation Tool Development. The premise is that "digital preservation is an operating system-agnostic field."
Necessities
- Provide publicly accessible documentation and an issue tracker
- Have a documented process so people can contribute to development, report bugs, and suggest new documentation
- Every tool should do the smallest possible task really well; if you are developing an end-to-end system, develop it in a modular way in keeping with this principle
- Follow established standards and practices for development and use of the tool
- Keep documentation up-to-date and versioned
- Follow test-driven development philosophy
- Don’t develop a tool without use cases, and stakeholders willing to validate those use cases
- Use an open and permissive software license to allow for integrations and broader use
- Have a mailing list or other means for community interaction
- Establish community guidelines
- Provide a well-documented mechanism for integration with other tools/systems
- Provide functionality of tool as a library, separate UI from the actual functions
- Package tool in an easy-to-use way, that supports any dependencies
- Provide examples of functionality for potential users
- Consider the long-term sustainability of the tool
- Consider a way for internationalization of the tool
Tuesday, May 09, 2017
Using Open-Source Tools to Fulfill Digital Preservation Requirements
OSS4EVA: Using Open-Source Tools to Fulfill Digital Preservation Requirements. Marty Gengenbach, et al. Code4Lib. 2016-10-25.
Open-source software has played an increasingly prominent role in digital preservation, such as LOCKSS, DSpace, and DROID. The number and variety of such tools has increased, there was a growing need among preservationists to assess how and when to adopt particular tools so that they could better support their institutions’ specific requirements and workflows. Open-source projects allows the user community to contribute by developing and documenting tools.
There are some challenges with open source programming.
Open-source software has played an increasingly prominent role in digital preservation, such as LOCKSS, DSpace, and DROID. The number and variety of such tools has increased, there was a growing need among preservationists to assess how and when to adopt particular tools so that they could better support their institutions’ specific requirements and workflows. Open-source projects allows the user community to contribute by developing and documenting tools.
There are some challenges with open source programming.
- Perceptions of instability: One challenge is the perception that these tools are "inherently unstable and therefore present a risk".
- Resources and funding: Administrators often are reluctant to commit resources to an open source project. Funding problems can threaten the long-term sustainability of open source tools.
- System updates: Open source tools require regular patches, updates, and upkeep. Without this, the tool would be outdated, and open to security holes. "The choice to maintain an unsupported version of a particular open-source tool simply because it meets (or has been customized to meet) an organization’s needs is problematic. For what an institution may stand to gain from this tool in terms of functionality and local integration, it may stand to lose in terms of the stability of a mainstream code release, the risk to information security, and the likelihood that the tool in question will become increasingly less functional and reliable as it ages".
- Integration. Integrating open-source tools into institutional workflows can be a challenge, taking into account software dependencies, system requirements, and local configuration to put the tools into a production environment. This can require a considerable time and resources.
Thursday, May 04, 2017
Personal Digital Archiving Guide Part 1: Preservation Planning
Personal Digital Archiving Guide Part 1: Preservation Planning. Scott Witmer. Bits and Pieces. April 26, 2017.
Digital materials require active intervention to be usable over time, since technology is constantly changing. "The more we use these files or transfer them from one technology to another, the greater the potential for data corruption. Digital files also run the risk of deletion due to accident or disaster. Having a preservation plan can mitigate the risks of obsolescence, erasure, or other forms of data loss." This post lists some simple suggestions for organizing digital files for long-term preservation, although everyone will have their own methods. Some digital preservation is better than none.
Preservation Steps for Personal Digital Collections:
Digital materials require active intervention to be usable over time, since technology is constantly changing. "The more we use these files or transfer them from one technology to another, the greater the potential for data corruption. Digital files also run the risk of deletion due to accident or disaster. Having a preservation plan can mitigate the risks of obsolescence, erasure, or other forms of data loss." This post lists some simple suggestions for organizing digital files for long-term preservation, although everyone will have their own methods. Some digital preservation is better than none.
Preservation Steps for Personal Digital Collections:
- Identify digital materials to save. Make a list or inventory
- Gather the files you want to save into one place
- Select what you really want to safe; define the scope of your digital collection
- Organize your digital files and add descriptive information to the file name, or other important information
- Give your files short, meaningful names, preferable when creating the files
- Use a meaningful directory structure to organize the files
- Back-up the files and have multiple copies:
- 3 copies
- 2 of the copies on 2 different types of storage media
- 1 copy in a different location
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Sustaining The Value: The British Library Digital Preservation Strategy 2017-2020
Sustaining
The Value: The British Library Digital Preservation Strategy 2017-2020.
British Library. January 2017.
The strategy document is intended to guide the Library’s digital preservation activities for the next few years. It identifies strategic priorities as well as the the roles and responsibilities of those who will deliver the strategy. The digital preservation challenges include technological obsolescence, media integrity, bit rot, digital rights management, metadata and others. Also important are
Related posts:
The strategy document is intended to guide the Library’s digital preservation activities for the next few years. It identifies strategic priorities as well as the the roles and responsibilities of those who will deliver the strategy. The digital preservation challenges include technological obsolescence, media integrity, bit rot, digital rights management, metadata and others. Also important are
- Proactive Lifecycle management
- Integrity & validation
- Fragility of storage media
"Digital Preservation is the combination of actions and interventions
required throughout the digital content lifecycle to ensure continued and
reliable access to authentic digital materials." Digital preservation is not just a technical
challenge. "It necessitates an ongoing and typically recursive series of actions
and interventions throughout the lifecycle to ensure continued & reliable access
to authentic digital objects,for as long as they are deemed to be of value."
Their vision is to make sure that "end-to-end workflows are in place that deliver and
preserve our digital collections in a trusted long term digital repository so
that they may be accessed by future users.” Other notes:
- Control and consistency throughout the lifecycle is therefore an essential aspect of large scale, sustainable preservation.
- Priorities include:
- Changes to the existing technical repository infrastructure
- Ingest digital collections with metadata for long term preservation
- Management and reporting will be documented and provide assurance and evidence of preservation
- Deliver content to users from the long term repository in a timely and reliable manner
- Also important is to embed the skills and resources needed to sustain this approach into the future.
Related posts:
- British Library Digital Preservation Strategy
- Collecting Digital Content at the Library of Congress
- Building a Digital Preservation Strategy
- Establishing Digital Preservation At the University of Melbourne
Monday, April 24, 2017
Three Keys to Digital Preservation: Management, Technology, and Content.
Three Keys to Digital Preservation: Management, Technology, and Content. Edward Corrado, Heather Moulaison Sandy. ACRL Webinar. Apr 12, 2017.
This is a webinar by Edward Corrado and Heather Moulaison Sandy that examines the basics of digital preservation, starting with what it is and what it is not. They then examine three fundamental and interrelated concerns in digital preservation: management, technology, and the content. The webinar also looks at:
This is a webinar by Edward Corrado and Heather Moulaison Sandy that examines the basics of digital preservation, starting with what it is and what it is not. They then examine three fundamental and interrelated concerns in digital preservation: management, technology, and the content. The webinar also looks at:
- The life cycle of digital objects
- Things to know before starting digital preservation projects
- Preservation techniques designed to endure changes in technology, as well as models and technical resources currently available
Some notes from the webinar:
- Digital preservation is the active management of digital content over time to ensure ongoing access.
- Digital objects are mediated by technology
- It is not possible to leave the digital object alone and expect it to survive
- By definition, digital preservation is a long-term activity. It requires policies to support this
- A preservation plan must balance priorities over time
- The greatest danger to digital materials is that we forget the meaning of them
- Preservation metadata supports the long-term access and use of content
- It is important to get content creators on board with preserving and describing the content, since they know the field and the content, and they will potentially be the content users
- Important steps to take now;
- Identify and organize content
- Manage multiple copies of the content
- Do a risk assessment of your digital operations
- Document your processes and decisions
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Understanding PREMIS
Understanding PREMIS. Priscilla Caplan. Library of Congress Network Development and MARC Standards Office. 2017.
PREMIS stands for "PREservation Metadata: Implementation Strategies". This document is a relatively brief overview of the PREMIS preservation metadata standard. It can also serve as an "gentle introduction" to the much larger document PREMIS Data Dictionary for Preservation Metadata. PREMIS defines preservation metadata as "the information a repository uses to support the digital preservation process." Preservation metadata also supports activities "intended to ensure the long-term usability of a digital resource."
The Data Dictionary defines a core set of metadata elements needed in order to perform preservation functions, so that digital objects can be read from the digital media, and can be displayed or played. It includes a definition of the element; a reason why it is part of the metadata; also examples and notes about how the value might be obtained and used. The elements address information needed to manage files properly, and to document any changes made. PREMIS only defines the metadata elements commonly needed to perform preservation functions on the materials to be preserved. The focus is on the repository and its management, not on the content authors or the associated staff, so it can be a guide or checklist for those developing or managing a repository or software applications. Some information needed is:
PREMIS stands for "PREservation Metadata: Implementation Strategies". This document is a relatively brief overview of the PREMIS preservation metadata standard. It can also serve as an "gentle introduction" to the much larger document PREMIS Data Dictionary for Preservation Metadata. PREMIS defines preservation metadata as "the information a repository uses to support the digital preservation process." Preservation metadata also supports activities "intended to ensure the long-term usability of a digital resource."
The Data Dictionary defines a core set of metadata elements needed in order to perform preservation functions, so that digital objects can be read from the digital media, and can be displayed or played. It includes a definition of the element; a reason why it is part of the metadata; also examples and notes about how the value might be obtained and used. The elements address information needed to manage files properly, and to document any changes made. PREMIS only defines the metadata elements commonly needed to perform preservation functions on the materials to be preserved. The focus is on the repository and its management, not on the content authors or the associated staff, so it can be a guide or checklist for those developing or managing a repository or software applications. Some information needed is:
- Provenance: The record of the chain of custody and change history of a digital object.
- Significant Properties: Characteristics of an object that should be maintained through preservation actions.
- Rights: knowing what you can do with an object while trying to preserve it.
- Objects (including Intellectual Entities)
- Agents
- Events
- Rights
Monday, April 17, 2017
Rosetta Knowledge Center
Rosetta Knowledge Center. Ex Libris. April 17, 2017.
One of the things that I like about Rosetta, is the Ex Libris commitment to an open system. While the software may be proprietary, the essential content is open. The permanent objects and metadata are stored openly, so that they can be accessed or managed outside of the Rosetta software.
Another area that Ex Libris has opened is their Knowledge Center. This is very helpful in training new employees, learning new things about the software, or refreshing my memory. The open website includes:
One of the things that I like about Rosetta, is the Ex Libris commitment to an open system. While the software may be proprietary, the essential content is open. The permanent objects and metadata are stored openly, so that they can be accessed or managed outside of the Rosetta software.
Another area that Ex Libris has opened is their Knowledge Center. This is very helpful in training new employees, learning new things about the software, or refreshing my memory. The open website includes:
- Product Documentation
- Training: Learn new skills with tutorials, recorded training and other materials
- Release Notes about the features and capabilities of each product version
- Implementation Guides that explain the methodology and requirements
- Knowledge Articles providing answers to help answer questions
Saturday, April 15, 2017
ETD+ Toolkit
ETD+ Toolkit. Dr. Katherine Skinner, et al. Educopia Institute. April 10, 2017.
Very helpful website for dealing with ETDs. The Toolkit is an open set of six modules to help students create, store, and maintain their research outputs. It was designed to:
.
The ETD+ Toolkit provides introductory training for data curation and digital longevity techniques. It helps students identify and offset risks and threats to their digital research.
Very helpful website for dealing with ETDs. The Toolkit is an open set of six modules to help students create, store, and maintain their research outputs. It was designed to:
- Help administrators understand the digital research outputs students are creating
- Help administrators assess what to collect and care for as part of the institutional memory
- Help students make sure that research outputs are in durable formats and on durable devices;
- Help students make informed decisions about file formats, documentation, and rights.
- Copyright: How can students gain appropriate permissions and how can students signal copyright for their own works?
- Data Organization: How can students structure, describe, store, and deposit data and other research files for reuse and/or future access?
- File Formats: How will the formats students choose make future access to their research easier or more difficult?
- Metadata: How can students store information describing their files to make sure they can tell what they are in the future?
- Storage: How can students make well informed choices about where to store their research materials?
- Version Control: What mechanisms can students use to make it easier to see the history of a file with multiple versions?
.
The ETD+ Toolkit provides introductory training for data curation and digital longevity techniques. It helps students identify and offset risks and threats to their digital research.
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
It’s not just a word
It’s not just a word. Helen Hockx. Things I cannot say in 140 characters. April 7, 2017.
Post that talks about her new job, to coordinate and develop a campus-wide strategy, and to oversee its implementation. Digital assets are managed but it now provides the opportunity to revisit the topic and address the gaps. "A key finding is the strong focus on “now” – archiving and preservation are routinely overlooked. As a result, some digital assets have been lost and some are at risk." A recommendation, considering "the 3 pillars of policy, process and technology" is to add “digital resources” to the university's goals where superb stewardship is required. Adding the word “digital” or calling out “digital resources” specifically, may not seem needed by some, but it emphasizes the need to "do a much better job with digital assets, if we applied the same rigor and coordinated approach." We still have a ways to go with digital archiving and preservation.
"So it is not just a word. Digital assets are a new class of resources which requires active care and management over time. Adding it to the strategic mix is a recognition of their value, and of digital stewardship as a strategic priority. No. it is not just a word, it will have to come with commitment, ownership and resources." Some day we can remove the word “digital” from our strategic plan, "when preservation of digital assets is embedded in the organisational culture and operations, when there is no need to even mention it."
Post that talks about her new job, to coordinate and develop a campus-wide strategy, and to oversee its implementation. Digital assets are managed but it now provides the opportunity to revisit the topic and address the gaps. "A key finding is the strong focus on “now” – archiving and preservation are routinely overlooked. As a result, some digital assets have been lost and some are at risk." A recommendation, considering "the 3 pillars of policy, process and technology" is to add “digital resources” to the university's goals where superb stewardship is required. Adding the word “digital” or calling out “digital resources” specifically, may not seem needed by some, but it emphasizes the need to "do a much better job with digital assets, if we applied the same rigor and coordinated approach." We still have a ways to go with digital archiving and preservation.
"So it is not just a word. Digital assets are a new class of resources which requires active care and management over time. Adding it to the strategic mix is a recognition of their value, and of digital stewardship as a strategic priority. No. it is not just a word, it will have to come with commitment, ownership and resources." Some day we can remove the word “digital” from our strategic plan, "when preservation of digital assets is embedded in the organisational culture and operations, when there is no need to even mention it."
Monday, April 10, 2017
Encoding and Wrapper Decisions and Implementation for Video Preservation Master Files
Encoding and Wrapper Decisions and Implementation for Video Preservation Master Files. Mike Casey. Indiana University. March 27, 2017.
"There is no consensus in the media preservation community on best practice for encoding and wrapping video preservation master files." Institutions preserving video files long term generally choose from three options:
Technical: identified a number of key advantages to FFV1, including:
As more and more archives undertake video digitization" they will not accept older and limited formats" (AVI or MOV), but they will be looking for standards-based, open source options developed specifically for archival preservation. "Both FFV1 and Matroska are open source and are more aligned with preservation needs than some of the other choices and we believe they will see rapidly increasing adoption and further development."
Implementation: They developed a quality control program to validate that the output meets their specification for long-term preservation and checks the FFV1/Matroska preservation master files. These files are viewed using the VLC media player, a free open source cross-platform multimedia player that supports FFV1 and Matroska
Currently, they have created over 38,000 video files using FFV1 and Matroska. "We have chosen two file formats that are open source, developed in part with reservation in mind, and on the road to standardization with tools in active development. We have aligned ourselves with the large and active FFmpeg community rather than a private company. While the future is ultimately unknowable, we believe that this positions us well for long-term preservation of video-based content."
"There is no consensus in the media preservation community on best practice for encoding and wrapping video preservation master files." Institutions preserving video files long term generally choose from three options:
- 10-bit, uncompressed, v210 codec, usually with a QuickTime wrapper
- JPEG 2000, mathematically lossless profile, usually with an MXF wrapper
- FFV1, a mathematically lossless format, with an AVI or Matroska wrapper
- Exit strategy research and testing
- Capture research (use FFmpeg within their system to generate FFV1 files).
- Comparison of issues
- Consultation with an outside expert
Technical: identified a number of key advantages to FFV1, including:
- roughly 65% less data than a comparable file using the v210 codec
- open source, non-proprietary, and hardware independent
- largely designed for the requirements of digital preservation
- employs CRCs for each frame allowing any corruption to be associated with a
- much smaller digital area than the entire file
As more and more archives undertake video digitization" they will not accept older and limited formats" (AVI or MOV), but they will be looking for standards-based, open source options developed specifically for archival preservation. "Both FFV1 and Matroska are open source and are more aligned with preservation needs than some of the other choices and we believe they will see rapidly increasing adoption and further development."
Implementation: They developed a quality control program to validate that the output meets their specification for long-term preservation and checks the FFV1/Matroska preservation master files. These files are viewed using the VLC media player, a free open source cross-platform multimedia player that supports FFV1 and Matroska
Currently, they have created over 38,000 video files using FFV1 and Matroska. "We have chosen two file formats that are open source, developed in part with reservation in mind, and on the road to standardization with tools in active development. We have aligned ourselves with the large and active FFmpeg community rather than a private company. While the future is ultimately unknowable, we believe that this positions us well for long-term preservation of video-based content."
Saturday, April 08, 2017
New Home and Features for Sustainability of Digital Formats Site
New Home and Features for Sustainability of Digital Formats Site. Kate Murray, Jaime Mears. The Signal. April 6, 2017.
The Library of Congress web site, Sustainability of Digital Formats, contains "the technical aspects of digital formats with a focus towards strategic planning regarding formats for digital content, especially collection policies." The formats are divided into the type of object, which includes:
The Library of Congress web site, Sustainability of Digital Formats, contains "the technical aspects of digital formats with a focus towards strategic planning regarding formats for digital content, especially collection policies." The formats are divided into the type of object, which includes:
- still image, sound, textual, moving image, web archive, datasets, geospatial and generic formats
- Disclosure
- Adoption
- Transparency
- Self-documentation
- External dependencies
- Impact of patents
- Technical protection mechanisms
- The PRONOM ID and the Wikidata Title ID, both which help to document the formats, and
- The Library of Congress Recommended Formats Statement.
Friday, April 07, 2017
How a Browser Extension Could Shake Up Academic Publishing
How a Browser Extension Could Shake Up Academic Publishing. Lindsay McKenzie. The Chronicle of Higher Education. April 06, 2017
There are several open-access initiatives. One initiative, called Unpaywall, is a just a browser extension. Unpaywall is an open-source, nonprofit organization "dedicated to improving access to scholarly research". It has created a browser extension to hopefully do one thing really well: instantly deliver legal, open-access, full text as you browse. "When an Unpaywall user lands on the page of a research article, the software scours thousands of institutional repositories, preprint servers, and websites like PubMed Central to see if an open-access copy of the article is available. If it is, users can click a small green tab on the side of the screen to view a PDF." A legally uploaded open-access copy is delivered to users more than half the time.
"It’s the scientists who wrote the articles, it’s the scientists who uploaded them — we’re just doing that very small amount of work to connect what the scientists have done to the readers who need to read the science." Open-access papers have the information but don’t always look like the carefully formatted articles in academic journals. Some users might not feel comfortable citing preprints or open-access versions obtained through Unpaywall, "without the trappings and formatting of traditional paywalled publishing," even if the copy is credible.
There are several open-access initiatives. One initiative, called Unpaywall, is a just a browser extension. Unpaywall is an open-source, nonprofit organization "dedicated to improving access to scholarly research". It has created a browser extension to hopefully do one thing really well: instantly deliver legal, open-access, full text as you browse. "When an Unpaywall user lands on the page of a research article, the software scours thousands of institutional repositories, preprint servers, and websites like PubMed Central to see if an open-access copy of the article is available. If it is, users can click a small green tab on the side of the screen to view a PDF." A legally uploaded open-access copy is delivered to users more than half the time.
"It’s the scientists who wrote the articles, it’s the scientists who uploaded them — we’re just doing that very small amount of work to connect what the scientists have done to the readers who need to read the science." Open-access papers have the information but don’t always look like the carefully formatted articles in academic journals. Some users might not feel comfortable citing preprints or open-access versions obtained through Unpaywall, "without the trappings and formatting of traditional paywalled publishing," even if the copy is credible.
Friday, March 31, 2017
Procuring Digital Preservation: A Briefing
Procuring Digital Preservation: A Briefing. Digital Preservation Coalition. 21 March 2017.
Selecting and deploying solutions is especially challenging where the processes are new, or where the available resources are stretched, moving from project to ‘business as usual’ can be hard. This may be the case with digital preservation, but new digital preservation tools, services, and suppliers are emerging rapidly. This requires digital preservation staff make confident choices between different products. The increasing number and type of choices can lead to‘information overload,’ and delay the already complicated process. Even organisations that "properly understand their digital preservation needs can be frustrated in solving them, while solution providers have to meet impractical and at times unfeasible expectations."
The Digital Preservation Coalition hosted a briefing day to clarify requirements help find solutions. The presentations:
Slides from several sessions are available:
Selecting and deploying solutions is especially challenging where the processes are new, or where the available resources are stretched, moving from project to ‘business as usual’ can be hard. This may be the case with digital preservation, but new digital preservation tools, services, and suppliers are emerging rapidly. This requires digital preservation staff make confident choices between different products. The increasing number and type of choices can lead to‘information overload,’ and delay the already complicated process. Even organisations that "properly understand their digital preservation needs can be frustrated in solving them, while solution providers have to meet impractical and at times unfeasible expectations."
The Digital Preservation Coalition hosted a briefing day to clarify requirements help find solutions. The presentations:
- examine requirements from the perspective of the developer and the collection owner
- discuss procedures for acquiring a preservation solution
- discuss case studies and good practices for documenting requirements
- examine current proprietary and open source solutions for digital preservation
- Allow vendors to explain their own requirements
Slides from several sessions are available:
- 'From process to solution: What I have learned' with Marc Fresko
- 'Internal Advocacy: persuading a complex organisation it needs Digital Preservation' with Chris Fryer, Parliamentary Archives
- 'Cloudy horizons: testing different solutions' with Lee Hibberd, National Library of Scotland
- 'From requirements to service and thereafter' with Claire Tunstall, Unilever
- 'DIY DP' with Neil Jefferies, University of Oxford Bodleian Libraries
- Service Providers’ case studies: 'What makes a supplier happy?' with Arkivum and Preservica
Thursday, March 30, 2017
ACRL Closes with Carla Hayden
ACRL Closes with Carla Hayden. Amy Carlton. American Libraries. March 27, 2017.
Some quotes from the article about libraries, collections, and information:
Some quotes from the article about libraries, collections, and information:
- “When we seek information, we examine the privilege of the voices and sources of our information, and we learn to identify whose voices are present and whose voices are missing and how that impacts and influences our understanding of that information.” Margaret Brown-Salazar
- "Hayden said her goal is to make the Library of Congress’s (LC) priceless collections available to everybody—for LC to live up to its nickname of America’s Library. Obama told her that he went to an exhibit there and saw Lincoln’s reading copy of the Gettysburg Address and the contents of his pockets from the night he was assassinated, but he was pretty sure this access was because of his being president. He told her he wanted someone for the job who could make sure a kid in Baltimore, a person at public library, a student at a community college, and anyone would be able to see these treasures. “And that’s when I said yes,” she said."
- “Our materials are nothing without the people and staff. That’s what makes it come alive”
- “Librarians are having a moment! Trustworthiness is our strength. We should revel in it and be confident in it. If we’re having a moment, let’s seize the moment!”
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Archives Unlocked vision launched at the Southbank Centre
Archives Unlocked vision launched at the Southbank Centre. Press release. The National Archives. 29 March 2017.
The National Archives (UK) has launched a vision and action plan to help archives secure their future through digital transformation, investing in new workforce skills, and encouraging innovation. This vision and action plan offers a future where "businesses, creative industries, arts organisations, academia, and communities can fully exploit a more resilient archives sector, with the UK leading the world in digital transformation." It is built on themes of Trust, Enrichment and Openness, that highlight "the importance of archives in holding authority to account through scrutiny, in driving innovation and creativity for businesses and across society, and in cultivating an open approach to knowledge accessible to all."
The rich, national collection of archives "are the nation’s collective memory." The updated vision is needed to sustain the Archives for the long term. "The Archives Unlocked action plan embodies this. It sets out what is required to release the power of the archives."
"Working with partners, stakeholders, investors and individuals, we will have greater potential and influence to accomplish what we need to do. The UK will be home to world-leading archives: both digital and physical."
The National Archives (UK) has launched a vision and action plan to help archives secure their future through digital transformation, investing in new workforce skills, and encouraging innovation. This vision and action plan offers a future where "businesses, creative industries, arts organisations, academia, and communities can fully exploit a more resilient archives sector, with the UK leading the world in digital transformation." It is built on themes of Trust, Enrichment and Openness, that highlight "the importance of archives in holding authority to account through scrutiny, in driving innovation and creativity for businesses and across society, and in cultivating an open approach to knowledge accessible to all."
The rich, national collection of archives "are the nation’s collective memory." The updated vision is needed to sustain the Archives for the long term. "The Archives Unlocked action plan embodies this. It sets out what is required to release the power of the archives."
"Working with partners, stakeholders, investors and individuals, we will have greater potential and influence to accomplish what we need to do. The UK will be home to world-leading archives: both digital and physical."
- Archives Unlocked. Releasing the Potential. [PDF]
- Archives Unlocked. Delivering the Vision. [PDF]
- Additional article. The National Archives sets out two-year plan to ensure digital future. Rebecca Hill. Public Technology. 29 March 2017.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Thumbs.db – what are they for and why should I care?
Thumbs.db – what are they for and why should I care? Jenny Mitcham. Digital Archiving at the University of York. 7 March 2017.
Post about the thumbs.db system files and how to deal with them in an archival situation. Windows uses a file called Thumbs.db to create thumbnail images of any images within a directory, and the thumbs.db files are stored in each directory that contains images. They proliferate quickly. If the Windows Explorer preferences must be set to display hidden files and "Hide protected operating system files" option also needs to be disabled in order to see these and other hidden files. IT can change account options to stop these thumbnail images from being created.
"Do I really want these in the digital archive? In my mind, what is in the ‘original’ folders within the digital archive should be what OAIS would call the Submission Information Package (SIP). Just those files that were given to us by a donor or depositor. Not files that were created subsequently by my own operating system."
[In our data ingest workflow, we use a utility that creates a csv file of items in directories for processing. The csv file is the ingest template which contains the file names and file metadata. This controls the files that are ingested. Unwanted files are removed from the csv file, which means that during ingest time, they are excluded from being ingested into Rosetta. - Chris]
Post about the thumbs.db system files and how to deal with them in an archival situation. Windows uses a file called Thumbs.db to create thumbnail images of any images within a directory, and the thumbs.db files are stored in each directory that contains images. They proliferate quickly. If the Windows Explorer preferences must be set to display hidden files and "Hide protected operating system files" option also needs to be disabled in order to see these and other hidden files. IT can change account options to stop these thumbnail images from being created.
"Do I really want these in the digital archive? In my mind, what is in the ‘original’ folders within the digital archive should be what OAIS would call the Submission Information Package (SIP). Just those files that were given to us by a donor or depositor. Not files that were created subsequently by my own operating system."
[In our data ingest workflow, we use a utility that creates a csv file of items in directories for processing. The csv file is the ingest template which contains the file names and file metadata. This controls the files that are ingested. Unwanted files are removed from the csv file, which means that during ingest time, they are excluded from being ingested into Rosetta. - Chris]
Monday, March 27, 2017
Saving At-Risk Audiovisual Materials
Saving At-Risk Audiovisual Materials. Jeanne Drewes. American Libraries. March 1, 2017.
Many audiovisual collections are considered at risk. Large amounts of content could be lost through deterioration of the original media unless it can be transferred to more durable digital formats. As libraries and other institutions rediscover the value of these collections they are taking steps to preserve the sounds and images they contain. Here are some steps to consider when planning your audiovisual preservation project.
Many audiovisual collections are considered at risk. Large amounts of content could be lost through deterioration of the original media unless it can be transferred to more durable digital formats. As libraries and other institutions rediscover the value of these collections they are taking steps to preserve the sounds and images they contain. Here are some steps to consider when planning your audiovisual preservation project.
- Know what you have. This is an important first step.
- Determine your priorities and set goals.
- Develop an action plan based on your goals.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
21st-Century Preservation Basics
21st-Century Preservation Basics. Brian J. Baird. Sidebar. American Libraries. March 1, 2017.
Since most scholarly information is now electronic, the basic elements of any digital library preservation policy in the 21st century include:
"Preservation in the 21st century must be proactive, visionary, and cooperative. If it is not, vast amounts of cultural heritage are in danger of vanishing."
Since most scholarly information is now electronic, the basic elements of any digital library preservation policy in the 21st century include:
- Cooperation. Every library has unique digital collections to preserve, but as the volume continues to grow exponentially, and as older material gets accessed less frequently, libraries may need to cooperate in order to collect and preserve materials long term.
- Environmental conditions. Optimal conditions for storing and preserving electronic information must continually be reexamined and improved.
- Disaster planning. A library disaster plan should build on an institution’s IT disaster plan to address specific needs.
- Reformatting.
- Repositories. Ideally, repository collections should be well preserved, sharable, and cost-effective and could expand on the consortial efforts already in use.
"Preservation in the 21st century must be proactive, visionary, and cooperative. If it is not, vast amounts of cultural heritage are in danger of vanishing."
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