iPRES 2008: Proceedings of The Fifth International Conference on Preservation of Digital Objects. The British Library, London. 29–30 September

319 Pages·2008·4.617 MB·English

2008
iPRES
Proceedings of The Fifth International
Conference on Preservation of Digital Objects
Joined Up and Working: Tools and Methods
for Digital Preservation
The British Library, London. 29 – 30 September
The(cid:3)British(cid:3)Library(cid:3)
St(cid:3)Pancras(cid:3)
London,(cid:3)UK(cid:3)
©The British Library Board. The rights of the authors contained in this publication to be identified as the author of the work
have been asserted by him or her in accordance with the Copyright & Designs Patent Act 1988. All rights reserved.
(cid:3)
Foreword(cid:3)
This volume brings together the proceedings of iPRES 2008, the Fifth International Conference on
Digital Preservation, held at The British Library on 29-30 September, 2008. From its beginnings five
years ago, iPRES has retained its strong international flavour. This year, it brings together over 250
participants from 33 countries and four continents. iPRES has become a major international forum for
the exchange of ideas and practice in Digital Preservation.
The theme of the conference is 'Joined Up and Working: Tools and Methods for Digital Preservation'.
Preserving our scientific, cultural and social digital heritage draws together activity across diverse
disciplines. It transcends international boundaries and incorporates the needs of disparate communities.
By working together, we have been able to make real concrete progress towards solving the problems
that we identified in earlier years.
The opening address by Dame Lynne Brindley, CEO of The British Library, demonstrates both the
importance of Digital Preservation at the national level, as well as commitment to dedicate the resources
needed to make progress.
The iPRES 2008 conference theme and the papers gathered together here represent a major shift in the
state-of-the-art. For the first time, this progress enabled the Programme Committee to establish two
distinct tracks. The practitioner track is designed for those with an interest in practically preserving
digital content within their organisation. The technical track is designed for those with an interest in
underpinning concepts and digital preservation technology. Readers will find valuable insights to draw
from in both areas.
This is also the first year that iPRES has collected and published full papers in addition to the
presentations provided at the conference. Authors’ abstracts were reviewed by at least three members of
the Programme Committee for quality, innovation, and significance. The Programme Committee was
impressed by the high quality of the submissions. The best 50 were invited to provide full papers for
inclusion in the proceedings and presentation at the conference. There are a very limited number of
venues for publishing conceptual frameworks, scientific results, and practical experience in Digital
Preservation. I believe that inclusion of full papers will make an important contribution to the field by
addressing this problem.
It is a huge effort to organise a successful international conference. Thanks are due to many individuals
and organisations. In particular, we thank the members of the Programme Committee, the members of
the Organising Committee, the invited speakers, panellists, authors, presenters, and the participants. We
are also grateful for the support provided by The British Library, the Digital Preservation Coalition
(DPC) and JISC. In addition, we thank Ex Libris, Sun Microsystems and Tessella for their recognition
of the challenge presented by the long term preservation of digital content and their support for this
conference.
Dr. Adam Farquhar
Programme Chair
Table of Contents
iPRES2008 Programme and Organising Committee
Paper Session 1: Modelling Organisational Goals
Session(cid:3)Chair:(cid:3)(cid:3)Oya(cid:3)Rieger(cid:3)(Cornell(cid:3)University)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Digital Preservation Policy: A Subject of No Importance?
1
Neil(cid:3)Beagrie,(cid:3)Najla(cid:3)Rettberg,(cid:3)Peter(cid:3)Williams(cid:3)(Charles(cid:3)Beagrie(cid:3)Ltd)(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Modelling Organisational Preservation Goals to Guide Digital Preservation
5
Angela(cid:3)Dappert,(cid:3)Adam(cid:3)Farquhar(cid:3)(The(cid:3)British(cid:3)Library)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Component Business Model for Digital Preservation: A Framework for Analysis
13
Raymond(cid:3)Van(cid:3)Diessen(cid:3)(IBM),(cid:3)Barbara(cid:3)Sierman(cid:3)(National(cid:3)Library(cid:3)of(cid:3)the(cid:3)Netherlands),(cid:3)Christopher(cid:3)
Lee(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)North(cid:3)Carolina)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Development of Organisational and Business Models for the Long-term Preservation
20
of Digital Objects
Tobias(cid:3)Beinert,(cid:3)Suzanne(cid:3)Lang,(cid:3)Astrid(cid:3)Shoger(cid:3)(Bavarian(cid:3)State(cid:3)Library)(cid:3)
Uwe(cid:3)Borghoff,(cid:3)Harald(cid:3)Hagel,(cid:3)Michael(cid:3)Minkus,(cid:3)Peter(cid:3)Rödig(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)Federal(cid:3)Armed(cid:3)Force)(cid:3)
(cid:3)
Paper Session 2: Disciplinary Contexts
Session(cid:3)Chair:(cid:3)John(cid:3)Kunze(cid:3)(California(cid:3)Digital(cid:3)Library,(cid:3)University(cid:3)of(cid:3)California)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Long-term Preservation of Electronic Literature
28
Sabine(cid:3)Schrimpf(cid:3)(German(cid:3)National(cid:3)Library)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Preservation of Art in the Digital Realm
32
Tim(cid:3)au(cid:3)Yeung,(cid:3)Sheelagh(cid:3)Carpendale,(cid:3)Saul(cid:3)Greenberg(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)Calgary)(cid:3)
(cid:120) In Cypher Writ, or New Made Idioms: Sustaining Digital Scholarship as Cooperative
40
Digital Preservation
Bradley(cid:3)Daigle(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)Virginia)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Adapting Existing Technologies for Digitally Archiving Personal Lives: Digital
48
Forensics, Ancestral Computing and Evolutionary Perspectives and Tools
Jeremy(cid:3)Leighton(cid:3)John(cid:3)(The(cid:3)British(cid:3)Library)(cid:3)
Paper Session 3: Digital Preservation Formats
Session(cid:3)Chair:(cid:3)Adrian(cid:3)Brown(cid:3)(The(cid:3)National(cid:3)Archives)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Enduring Access to Digitised Books: Organizational and Technical Framework
56
Oya(cid:3)Rieger,(cid:3)Bill(cid:3)Kehoe(cid:3)(Cornell(cid:3)University)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Creating Virtual CD-Rom Collections
62
Kam(cid:3)Woods,(cid:3)Geoffrey(cid:3)Brown(cid:3)(Indiana(cid:3)University)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Preservation of Web Resources: The JISC-PoWR Project 70
Brian(cid:3)Kelly,(cid:3)Marieke(cid:3)Guy(cid:3)(UKOLN,(cid:3)University(cid:3)of(cid:3)Bath)(cid:3)
Kevin(cid:3)Ashley,(cid:3)Ed(cid:3)Pinsent,(cid:3)Richard(cid:3)Davis(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)London(cid:3)Computer(cid:3)Centre)(cid:3)
Jordan(cid:3)Hatcher(cid:3)(Opencontentlawyer.com)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Preserving the Content and Network: An Innovative Approach to Web Archiving
78
Amanda(cid:3)Spencer(cid:3)(The(cid:3)National(cid:3)Archives)(cid:3)
(cid:120) “What? So What?”: the Next-Generation JHOVE2 Architecture for Format-Aware 86
Characterization
Stephen(cid:3)Abrams(cid:3)(California(cid:3)Digital(cid:3)Library,(cid:3)University(cid:3)of(cid:3)California)(cid:3)
Sheelagh(cid:3)Morrissey(cid:3)(Portico)(cid:3)
Tom(cid:3)Cramer(cid:3)(Stanford(cid:3)University)(cid:3)
(cid:3)
Paper Session 4: Preservation Planning
Session(cid:3)Chair:(cid:3)Kevin(cid:3)Ashley(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)London(cid:3)Computer(cid:3)Centre)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Emulation: From Digital Artefact to Remotely Rendered Environments 93
Dirk(cid:3)von(cid:3)Suchodoletz,(cid:3)Jeffrey(cid:3)van(cid:3)der(cid:3)Hoeven(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)Freiburg)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Data Without Meaning: Establishing the Significant Properties of Digital Research 99
Gareth(cid:3)Knight(cid:3)(Kings(cid:3)College,(cid:3)London),(cid:3)Maureen(cid:3)Pennock(cid:3)(Portico)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Towards a Curation and Preservation Architecture for CAD Engineering Models 107
Alexander(cid:3)Ball,(cid:3)Manjula(cid:3)Patel,(cid:3)Lian(cid:3)Ding(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)Bath)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Evaluating Strategies for Preservation of Console Video Games 115
Mark(cid:3)Guttenbrunner,(cid:3)Christoph(cid:3)Becker,(cid:3)Andreas(cid:3)Rauber,(cid:3)Carmen(cid:3)Kehrberg(cid:3)(Vienna(cid:3)University(cid:3)of(cid:3)
Technology)(cid:3)
(cid:3)
Paper Session 5: Understanding Costs & Risks
Session(cid:3)Chair:(cid:3)Neil(cid:3)Beagrie(cid:3)(Charles(cid:3)Beagrie(cid:3)Ltd)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Costing the Digital Preservation Lifecycle More Effectively 122
Paul(cid:3)Wheatley(cid:3)(The(cid:3)British(cid:3)Library)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Risk Assessment: Using a Risk-based Approach to Prioritise Handheld Digital 127
Information
Rory(cid:3)McLeod(cid:3)(The(cid:3)British(cid:3)Library)(cid:3)
(cid:120) The Significance of Storage in the ‘Cost of Risk’ of Digital Preservation 134
Richard(cid:3)Wright,(cid:3)Art(cid:3)Miller(cid:3)(BBC),(cid:3)Matthew(cid:3)Addis(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)Southampton)(cid:3)
(cid:120) International Study on the Copyright and Digital Preservation 140
June(cid:3)Besek(cid:3)(Columia(cid:3)Law(cid:3)School)(cid:3)
Jessica(cid:3)Coates,(cid:3)Brian(cid:3)Fitzgerald(cid:3)(Queensland(cid:3)University(cid:3)of(cid:3)Technology)(cid:3)
William(cid:3)LeFurgy,(cid:3)Christopher(cid:3)Weston(cid:3)(Library(cid:3)of(cid:3)Congress)(cid:3)
Wilma(cid:3)Moussink(cid:3)(SURFfoundation)(cid:3)
Adrienne(cid:3)Muir(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)Loughborough)(cid:3)
(cid:3)
Paper Session 6: Preservation Metadata
Session(cid:3)Chair:(cid:3)Michael(cid:3)Day(cid:3)(UKOLN,(cid:3)University(cid:3)of(cid:3)Bath)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Developing Preservation Metadata for Use in Grid-based Preservation Systems 145
Arwen(cid:3)Hutt,(cid:3)Brad(cid:3)Westbrook,(cid:3)Ardys(cid:3)Kozbial(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)California)(cid:3)
Robert(cid:3)McDonald(cid:3)(Indiana(cid:3)University)(cid:3)
Don(cid:3)Sutton(cid:3)(San(cid:3)Diego(cid:3)Super(cid:3)Computer(cid:3)Center)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Using METS, PREMIS and MODS for Archiving EJournals
151
Angela(cid:3)Dappert,(cid:3)Markus(cid:3)Enders(cid:3)(The(cid:3)British(cid:3)Library)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Harvester Results in Digital Preservation System
159
Tobias(cid:3)Steinke(cid:3)(German(cid:3)National(cid:3)Library)(cid:3)
(cid:120) The FRBR-Theoretical Library: The Role of Conceptual Data Modelling in Cultural
163
Heritage Information System Design
Ronald(cid:3)Murray(cid:3)(Library(cid:3)of(cid:3)Congress)(cid:3)
Paper Session 7: Grid Storage Architecture
Session(cid:3)Chair:(cid:3)Steve(cid:3)Abrams(cid:3)(California(cid:3)Digital(cid:3)Library,(cid:3)University(cid:3)of(cid:3)California)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Towards Smart Storage for Repository Preservation Services 169
Steve(cid:3)Hitchcock,(cid:3)David(cid:3)Tarrant,(cid:3)Leslie(cid:3)Carr(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)Southampton)(cid:3)
Adrian(cid:3)Brown(cid:3)(The(cid:3)National(cid:3)Archives)(cid:3)
Ben(cid:3)O’Steen,(cid:3)Neil(cid:3)Jefferies(cid:3)(Oxford(cid:3)University)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Repository and Preservation Storage Architecture
175
Keith(cid:3)Rajecki(cid:3)(Sun(cid:3)Microsystems(cid:3)Inc.)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Implementing Preservation Services over the Storage Resource Broker
181
Douglas(cid:3)Kosovic,(cid:3)Jane(cid:3)Hunter(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)Queensland)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Embedding Legacy Environments into a Grid-based Preservation Infrastructure
189
Claus(cid:882)Peter(cid:3)Klas,(cid:3)Holger(cid:3)Brocks,(cid:3)Lars(cid:3)Müller,(cid:3)Matthias(cid:3)Hemmje(cid:3)(Fern(cid:3)Universität,(cid:3)Hagen)(cid:3)
Paper Session 8: Establishing Trust in Service Providers
Session(cid:3)Chair:(cid:3)Seamus(cid:3)Ross(cid:3)(Humanities(cid:3)Advanced(cid:3)Technology(cid:3)and(cid:3)Information(cid:3)Institute)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Creating Trust Relationships for Distributed Digital Preservation Federations 197
Tyler(cid:3)Walters(cid:3)(Georgia(cid:3)Institute(cid:3)of(cid:3)Technology(cid:3)Library(cid:3)and(cid:3)Information(cid:3)Centre)(cid:3)
Robert(cid:3)McDonald(cid:3)(Indiana(cid:3)University)(cid:3)
(cid:120) The Use of Quality Management Standards in Trustworthy Digital Archives
205
Susanne(cid:3)Dobratz,(cid:3)(Humboldt(cid:3)University,(cid:3)Berlin)(cid:3)
Uwe(cid:3)Borgoff,(cid:3)Peter(cid:3)Rödig(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)the(cid:3)Federal(cid:3)Armed(cid:3)Forces)(cid:3)
Astrid(cid:3)Schoger(cid:3)(Bavarian(cid:3)State(cid:3)Library)(cid:3)
Björn(cid:3)Rätzke(cid:3)–(cid:3)(Rätzke(cid:3)IT(cid:3)Services)(cid:3)
(cid:3)
(cid:120) The Data Audit Framework: A Toolkit to Identify Research Assets and Improve Data 213
Management in Research-led Institutions
Sarah(cid:3)Jones,(cid:3)Seamus(cid:3)Ross(cid:3)(Digital(cid:3)Curation(cid:3)Centre(cid:3)and(cid:3)Humanities(cid:3)Advanced(cid:3)Technology(cid:3)and(cid:3)
Information(cid:3)Institute)(cid:3)
Raivo(cid:3)Ruusalepp(cid:3)(Estonian(cid:3)Business(cid:3)Archives)(cid:3)
(cid:3)
(cid:120) Data Seal of Approval – Assessment and Review of the Quality of Operations for
220
Research Data Repositories
Henk(cid:3)Harmsen(cid:3)(Data(cid:3)Archiving(cid:3)and(cid:3)Networked(cid:3)Services)(cid:3)
Paper Session 9: Service Architectures for Digital Preservation
Session(cid:3)Chair:(cid:3)Andrew(cid:3)Wilson(cid:3)(National(cid:3)Archives(cid:3)of(cid:3)Australia)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Updating DAITSS - Transitioning to a Web Service Architecture
223
Randall(cid:3)Fischer,(cid:3)Carol(cid:3)Chou,(cid:3)Franco(cid:3)Lazzarino(cid:3)(Florida(cid:3)Center(cid:3)for(cid:3)Library(cid:3)Automation)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Conceptual Framework for the Use of the Service-oriented Architecture-Approach in
229
the Digital Preservation
Christian(cid:3)Saul,(cid:3)Fanny(cid:3)Klett(cid:3)(Fraunhofer(cid:3)Institute(cid:3)of(cid:3)Digital(cid:3)Media(cid:3)Technology)(cid:3)
(cid:120) RODA and Crib: A Service Oriented Digital Repository 235
José(cid:3)Carlos(cid:3)Ramalho.(cid:3)Miguel(cid:3)Ferreira(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)Minho)(cid:3)
Luis(cid:3)Faria,(cid:3)Rui(cid:3)Castro,(cid:3)Francisco(cid:3)Barbedo,(cid:3)Luis(cid:3)Corugo,(cid:3)((DGARQ)(cid:3)
(cid:3)
(cid:120) Persistent Identifier Distributed System for Cultural Heritage Digital Objects 242
Emanuele(cid:3)Bellini,(cid:3)Chiara(cid:3)Cirinnà, Maurizio(cid:3)Lunghi(cid:3)(Foundazione(cid:3)Rinascimento(cid:3)Digitale)(cid:3)
Ernesto(cid:3)Damiani,(cid:3)Cristiano(cid:3)Fugazza(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)Milan)(cid:3)
Paper Session 10: Digital Preservation Services
Session(cid:3)Chair:(cid:3)John(cid:3)Kunze(cid:3)(California(cid:3)Digital(cid:3)Library,(cid:3)University(cid:3)of(cid:3)California)(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Encouraging Cyberinfrastructure Collaboration for Digital Preservation 250
Christopher(cid:3)Jordan(cid:3)(Texas(cid:3)Advanced(cid:3)Computing(cid:3)Center)(cid:3)
Ardys(cid:3)Kozbial(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)California)(cid:3)
David(cid:3)Minor,(cid:3)Robert(cid:3)McDonald(cid:3)(San(cid:3)Diego(cid:3)Super(cid:3)Computer(cid:3)Centre)(cid:3)
(cid:3)
(cid:120) Establishing a Community-based Approach to Electronic Journal Archiving:
257
LOCKSS
Adam(cid:3)Rusbridge,(cid:3)Seamus(cid:3)Ross(cid:3)(Digital(cid:3)Curation(cid:3)Centre)(cid:3)
(cid:120) The KB e-Depot in Development Integrating Research Results in the Library
264
Organisation
Hilde(cid:3)van(cid:3)Wijngaarden,(cid:3)Frank(cid:3)Houtman,(cid:3)(cid:3)Marcel(cid:3)Ras(cid:3)(National(cid:3)Library(cid:3)of(cid:3)the(cid:3)Netherlands)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Building a Digital Repository: a Practical Implementation
270
Filip(cid:3)Boudrez(cid:3)(City(cid:3)Archives(cid:3)of(cid:3)Antwerp)(cid:3)
Paper Session 11: Foundations
Session(cid:3)Chair:(cid:3)Chris(cid:3)Rusbridge(cid:3)(Digital(cid:3)Curation(cid:3)Centre)(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Bit Preservation: A Solved Problem?
274
David(cid:3)H(cid:3)Rosenthal(cid:3)(Stanford(cid:3)University)(cid:3)
(cid:120) The Modelling System Reliability for Digital Preservation: Model Modification and
281
Four-Copy Model Study
Yan(cid:3)Han,(cid:3)Chi(cid:3)Pak(cid:3)Chan(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)Arizona)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Ways to Deal with Complexity
287
Christian(cid:3)Keitel(cid:3)(Staatsarchiv(cid:3)Ludwigsburg)(cid:3)
292
(cid:3)
(cid:120) A Logic-based Approach to the Formal Specification of Data Formats
Michael(cid:3)Hartle,(cid:3)Arsenne(cid:3)Botchak,(cid:3)Daniel(cid:3)Schumann,(cid:3)Max(cid:3)Mühlhäuser(cid:3)(Technische(cid:3)Universität,(cid:3)
Darmstadt)(cid:3)
Panels:
(cid:120) National and International Initiatives Panel Discussion
300
Moderator:(cid:3)Neil(cid:3)Grindley(cid:3)(Joint(cid:3)Information(cid:3)Systems(cid:3)Committee,(cid:3)JISC)(cid:3)
Panelists:(cid:3)Martha(cid:3)Anderson(cid:3)(Office(cid:3)of(cid:3)Strategic(cid:3)Initiatives,(cid:3)Library(cid:3)of(cid:3)Congress),(cid:3)Steve(cid:3)Knight(cid:3)
(Digital(cid:3) Strategy(cid:3) Implementation,(cid:3) National(cid:3) Library(cid:3) of(cid:3) New(cid:3) Zealand),(cid:3) Natascha(cid:3) Schumann(cid:3)
(NESTOR,(cid:3)German(cid:3)Network(cid:3)of(cid:3)Expertise(cid:3)in(cid:3)Digital(cid:3)Long(cid:882)term(cid:3)Preservation)(cid:3)
(cid:120) International Approaches to Web Archiving Panel Discussion
305
Moderator:(cid:3)Richard(cid:3)Boulderstone(cid:3)(International(cid:3)Internet(cid:3)Preservation(cid:3)Coalition(cid:3)and(cid:3)The(cid:3)British(cid:3)
Library)(cid:3)
Panelists:(cid:3)Thorsteinn(cid:3)Hallgrimsson(cid:3)(National(cid:3)and(cid:3)University(cid:3)Library(cid:3)of(cid:3)Iceland),(cid:3)Birgit(cid:3)N.(cid:3)Henriksen(cid:3)
(The(cid:3)Royal(cid:3)Library,(cid:3)Denmark),(cid:3)Helen(cid:3)Hockx(cid:882)Yu(cid:3)(The(cid:3)British(cid:3)Library),(cid:3)Gildas(cid:3)Illien(cid:3)(National(cid:3)Library(cid:3)
of(cid:3)France),(cid:3)Colin(cid:3)Webb(cid:3)(National(cid:3)Library(cid:3)of(cid:3)Australia)(cid:3)
(cid:120) Training and Curriculum Development Panel Discussion
307
Moderator:(cid:3)Frances(cid:3)Boyle(cid:3)(Digital(cid:3)Preservation(cid:3)Coalition)(cid:3)
Panelists:(cid:3)Nancy(cid:3)McGovern(cid:3)(Inter(cid:882)University(cid:3)Consortium(cid:3)for(cid:3)Political(cid:3)and(cid:3)Social(cid:3)Research),(cid:3)Kevin(cid:3)
Ashley(cid:3)(University(cid:3)of(cid:3)London(cid:3)Computer(cid:3)Centre),(cid:3)Rachel(cid:3)Frick(cid:3)(Institute(cid:3)of(cid:3)Museum(cid:3)and(cid:3)Library(cid:3)
Services),(cid:3)Joy(cid:3)Davidson(cid:3)(Digital(cid:3)Curation(cid:3)Centre)(cid:3)
Author Index 309
(cid:3)
(cid:3)
(cid:3)
(cid:3)
iPRES(cid:3)2008(cid:3)Programme(cid:3)and(cid:3)Organising(cid:3)Committee(cid:3)
(cid:3)
Programme(cid:3)Committee(cid:3)
Programme Chair: Adam Farquhar, The British Library
Frances Boyle, Digital Preservation Coalition
Patricia Cruse, University of California
Neil Grindley, Joint Information Systems Committee
Heike Neuroth, State and University Library-Goettingen
Oya Rieger, Cornell University
Shigeo Sugimoto, University of Tsukuba
Andrew Wilson, National Archives of Australia
(cid:3)
Organising(cid:3)Committee(cid:3)
(cid:3)
Organising Chair: Jane Humphreys, The British Library
Doreen Bonas, The British Library
Pete Carr, The British Library
Alison Faraday, The British Library
Carol Jackson, Digital Preservation Coalition
Suvi Kankainen, The British Library
Rui Miao, The British Library
Charlotte Orrell-Jones, The British Library
John Overeem, The British Library
Anna Spiering, Leiths Catering
Lawrence Christensen, The British Library
Mark Walton, The British Library
Colin White, The British Library
(cid:3)
Digital Preservation Policy: A subject of no importance?
Neil Beagrie*, Najla Rettberg**, Peter Williams ***
*Charles Beagrie Ltd ** Charles Beagrie Ltd *** Charles Beagrie Ltd
www.beagrie.com www.beagrie.com www.beagrie.com
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Abstract also seeks to include information from outside of the UK
HE/FE sector where appropriate. It does not have
There are relatively few digital preservation policies within
institutions: is digital preservation a subject of no importance? resources to develop recommendations for all areas from
This paper presents ongoing work and findings from a JISC scratch but has referenced and build upon other work,
funded study on institutional digital preservation policies which case studies, and tools and services and seeks to identify
aims to provide an outline model for digital preservation and position its recommendations to complement
policies and in particular to analyse the role that digital existing resources.
preservation can play in supporting and delivering key
strategies for Higher Education Institutions in areas such as
Its aim therefore has been to produce a practical “how
research and teaching and learning. Although focussing on the
to” guide for developing an institutional digital
UK Higher Education sector, the study draws widely on policy
preservation policy. It contains strategic policy advice
and implementations from other sectors and countries and will
be of interest to those wishing to develop policy and justify supported by further reading sections which select and
investment in digital preservation within a wide range of provide brief descriptions of key existing resources to
institutions. assist implementation using specific strategies and tools.
Introduction We understand the very different types of institutional
A recent synthesis of the UK Joint Information Systems needs that need to be supported by the study. We are
Committee’s digital preservation and records therefore including guidance on how to tailor a policy for
management programme noted that ’the costs and the needs of a specific institution or function. This
benefits of developing a coherent, managed and combined with a modular approach should allow
sustainable approach to institutional preservation of selection and tailoring for a wide range of individual
digital assets remain unexplored’(Pennock, 2008). needs.
Across many sectors the development of institutional
preservation policies is currently sporadic and digital Finally but perhaps most importantly, we have
preservation issues are rarely considered in key strategic recognised developing an institutional preservation
plans. The lack of preservation policies and as a result policy will only be worthwhile if it is linked to core
the lack of consideration of digital preservation issues in institutional business drivers and strategies: it cannot be
other institutional strategies is seen as a major stumbling effective in splendid isolation. We have therefore
block. devoted significant effort to mapping and linking a
preservation strategy to other core university policies
This paper presents the current work and emerging including research and teaching and learning.
findings of a new JISC -funded study (completing late
September 2008 and to be published Autumn 2008) to The format of the remainder of this paper is an overview
help institutions the UK Higher Education sector of progress to date (August 2008) focussing on the
understand, develop and implement relevant digital development of a model policy and the analysis of high-
preservation policies. level institutional strategies from UK universities and
potential support for them from digital preservation
Institutions may have a range of central and devolved activities. This is still very much a work in progress and
functions and departments that will need to consider the reader is encouraged to consider the completed
digital preservation in some form. The study is therefore version of this work which will be published by JISC in
ensuring that it promotes approaches to policy and Autumn 2008 and presented at the conference in late
guidance which will underpin and inform the activities of September.
a wide range of relevant functions and stakeholders
within institutions. Institutional Digital Preservation Policies
After consulting a large range of resources and example
The research that has been undertaken in the course of policies, it is clear that whilst a high-level policy
this study references existing institutional policies and
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