1.
The Arts and Humanities
Data Service
Preserving Digital
Collections:current methods and
research
Neil Beagrie
Funded by the Joint Information Systems
Committee

2.
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

3.
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

4.
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

5.
Preparation 2

6.
The Study
One of seven digital preservation studies
http://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

7.
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

8.
The Case Studies
Funding agencies
digitisers
data banks
institutional archives
academic archives
legal deposit/copyright libraries

9.
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/AHRB
http://ahds.ac.uk http://www.ahrb.ac.uk/
» joint C&IT Policy
» Guidance for depositors and data creators

10.
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/

11.
New approaches
digital preservation methods:
» migration
» emulation
» technology preservation
“bundling” and technical metadata

12.
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

13.
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

14.
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

15.
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
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