This document summarizes a discussion on digital preservation between Alex Fell and attendees. Key points included: (1) while backups offer security, digital assets can still degrade so regular integrity checks are needed; (2) archives have more developed digital preservation policies and standards compared to other institutions; and (3) digital preservation poses new challenges for museums who are used to preserving physical materials and see it as an "IT problem". Possible solutions discussed integrating digital preservation policies and automated checks into existing collection management systems.

1. Axiell East Coast Roadshow 2018
Digital Preservation Discussion Group
Alex Fell, Deputy Head R&D

2. What does Digital Preservation mean to my
organisation?
● What processes do you
have in place?
○ IT backups
○ Retention policies
○ File formats
○ FIle integrity audits
● What standards do you
follow / aspire to?
○ OAIS
○ OCLC
○ NDSA Levels
● What digital material do you
value?
○ Born DIgital
○ Collection images
● What risks do you see to
material held by your
organisation?

3. Our understanding of Digital Preservation
● IT Backups offer false security
○ Assets can degrade spontaneously; through human error; on
access / copy
○ Any errors must be detected within backup retention window
○ Confused vocabulary between IT and end-users (IRN,
Multimedia record)
● In general, Archives have a more developed understanding
○ Digital Preservation policies part of Accreditation
○ More born digital material
○ More able to control archival formats

4. Our understanding of Digital Preservation
● On-site solutions (can) cost
○ Scale up very well (cost per GB), difficult to scale down (few
TB)
● Cloud storage raises questions
○ Long term availability / cost
○ Internet pipeline speed vs. rate of acquisition
○ In contrast to recent trends to cloud

5. Our understanding of Digital Preservation
● A new problem for museums
○ Problem is realised after a loss
○ Accreditation / funding bodies don’t recognise
○ Used to preserving physical material
○ Seen as an “IT” problem - museum experts lack vocabulary
○ Conservation?

6. Open discussion
- challenges?
- problems?
- questions to the floor?

7. Possible solutions?
● Integration with Collections Management System
○ Light-touch - Set institution policies up-front
○ Specific interactions to preserve specific items
○ Management reports
○ DIgital preservation policy “wizard”
○ Overview of stored assets
● Integrity
● Formats & longevity
○ Automated checks of fixity / checksum / formats
○ Email alerts when action is required, policies need
review