A complete overview of digital preservation theory and practice for cultural institutions and professions.
The third edition of Digital Preservation for Libraries, Archives, and Museums is the most current, complete guide to digital preservation available today. The text has been both updated and revised, continuing to present complex topics thoroughly and accessibly. Important new content includes information on environmental sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
After laying out the problems and perspectives that inform digital preservation, the authors present a variety of solutions ranging from basic to complex. Addressing digital preservation in the broadest sense of the term, the text looks at all aspects of curating and preserving digital content for long-term access. Instead of focusing on specific materials in a particular system, it addresses a broad group of resources that could be housed in any number of digital preservation systems.
Part 1 provides an overview of digital preservation and helps students and new professionals get started. Part 2 focuses on management of the digital preservation environment, including managing technology and human resources. Financial, organizational, and environmental sustainability are important considerations. Part 3 turns to technology, which can be a source of concern for those new to the field. A thorough look at metadata, file formats, software, and emulation helps clarify preservation technology. Part 4 considers selecting content, preserving research data, and working with specialized content.
Students and professionals will both come away with a more robust understanding of digital preservation and the ability to plan more successful digital preservation initiatives.
Table of Contents:
PART 1: Situating Digital Preservation
1. What is Digital Preservation?
2. Getting Started with the Digital Preservation Triad
PART 2: Management Aspects
3. Management for Digital Preservation
4. The OAIS Reference Model
5. Staffing and Staff Development
6. Financial and Organizational Sustainability
7. Environmental Sustainability
8. Evaluation of Digital Preservation Programs
PART 3: Technology Aspects
9. Digital Repository Software and Digital Preservation Systems
10. Metadata for Digital Preservation
11. File Formats and Software for Identification
12. Preservation Actions
PART 4: Content-Related Aspects
13. Selecting Content
14. Preserving Research Data
15. Specialized Content
16. Conclusion
Appendix A: Select Resources in Support of Digital Preservation
Glossary
Index
About the Author :
Edward M. Corrado is University Librarian at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, USA.
Heather Moulaison-Sandy is Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies at the iSchool at the University of Missouri, USA.
Teresa Soleau is Product Manager for Digital Preservation at the J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Review :
"This book is essential reading for anyone just starting out in digital preservation or who could use a refresher on a variety of topics. Readers will benefit from the in-depth and accessible approach to even the most complex topics, as great care was taken to provide appropriate background for any reader. This is an ideal read for information professionals working in a variety of information agencies." --Bradley Wade Bishop, Professor, University of Tennessee, USA
"I have acquired every edition of this book since its initial publication, and I am pleased to add this latest version to my bookshelf. The authors have once again produced a rigorous, timely, and comprehensive resource that reflects the ongoing evolution of digital preservation practice. Notable additions in this edition include a thoughtful discussion of the recently released CHARM Risk Reference Model as well as a crucial new chapter addressing the intersection of environmental sustainability and digital preservation, which is an increasingly urgent area of concern for the field.
I am particularly appreciative of the "Debunking Digital Preservation Myths" section that opens the volume. As any practitioner knows, these myths are widespread in adjacent fields and seeing them clearly laid out and dispelled is both validating and useful. The book succeeds not only in demystifying persistent misunderstandings but also in grounding digital preservation within a sound framework for professional practice and organizational management.
Overall, this edition stands as both an excellent primer for those new to digital preservation and an authoritative, up-to-date synthesis that experienced professionals will find invaluable as a reference and guide." --Sibyl Schaefer, Climate Data and Digital Preservation Librarian, UC San Diego, USA
"Corrado, Moulaison-Sandy, and Soleau's most recent edition of Digital Preservation for Libraries, Archives, and Museums offers an updated and refreshed take on one of the most persistent challenges of archives. By combining the foundations of archiving and information science with emerging trends in born-digital archiving and automation, this book serves as both a reliable reference for practitioners and a primer for students entering the field of digital preservation and curation. The authors' expertise shines through their ability to draw upon rich examples across institutions and communities of practice, each supported by both tangible guidance and theoretical implications. However, the most valuable advice that this book provides is that the practice of digital preservation is constantly adapting. Acknowledging this, the authors speak candidly about how much one learns through hands-on experience with the work and through dialogue with peers across the library, archives, and museums landscape, and this book serves as a bridge to connect those networks and guide others on how to begin the conversation." --Travis L. Wagner, Assistant Professor, University of Illinois School of Information Sciences, USA
