File format obsolescence and software dependencies are other potentially problematic areas. Being able to validate files and check their integrity (whether or not they have changed over time) is vital as we need to be able to demonstrate the authenticity of the materials in our care. Traditionally archivists appraise collections to select the material suitable for preservation, but this task becomes much more difficult and time consuming in a digital environment. It is very easy to create massive amounts of digital files and to save multiple copies of the same thing. These may be digital photographs of the hard copy material we hold or digital audio or video files from carriers such as cassette or video tapes which have been digitised because of their fragility and the risk of loss.Īlthough digital archives are still archives, and there are many similarities with our physical collections in terms of how we manage them, they have their own distinct set of challenges. Organisations and individuals who approach us to enquire about depositing their archives are increasingly offering us material in digital form and it is imperative that we collect and preserve this material to have a comprehensive archive in the future.Īs well as these original or so-called born-digital materials, we hold digital copies or digital surrogates of some of the physical material in our collections. Materials such as these created in hard copy in the past (which form a large part of our collections) are almost always created digitally nowadays. When you think of archives, old handwritten documents such as letters, diaries, minute books or even a photograph album probably come to mind. Digital preservation is a key part of the work we do in Special Collections and Theatre Collection to ensure our researchers have access to important digital collections now and in the future. This year’s theme is ‘Digital Preservation: A Concerted Effort’ and the focus is on the interactions and relationships that make for success in this area. Today (2 nd November) is World Digital Preservation Day: an international date to celebrate digital preservation. Emma Hancox, Digital Archivist writes about World Digital Preservation Day and our recent steps in digital preservation.
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