Building digital archives: Design decisions: A best practice example
Curation
This conference by Meyer et al discusses the concept of digital archive building and the best methods to, “search for an applicable and adequate data or document model [and] software tools which meets the requirements” (Meyer et al) of making digital library applications. Within their conference, they explained how there is not an ideal document model or system, there is not a “one-size-fits-all” (Meyer et al), but that each document model or system is unique to the information that is being digitally archived. This conference goes in-depth on the technical implementation of aspects of a digital archive, factors that will ultimately determine the sustainability and the maintenance of the archive. These ideas are all included within the “digital archive project DARL (Digitales Archiv Rostocker Liederbuch, engl.)” (Meyer et al).
I found the information found within this conference pertinent to the overall understanding of a digital archive. I think that it can be easy to lose sight of how archives, while they have the same goal and purpose, are all unique and, thus, made differently. Understanding how an archive is made is extremely important and this resource helps readers to understand the technical side of design decisions that impact an archive in big ways.
Meyer, Holger
Bruder, Ilvio
Finger, Andreas
Heuer, Andreas
IEEE
2015-01-06
Meagan Roge
Presentation
DOI: 10.1109/ETTLIS.2015.7048172
Bringing User-Centered Design to the Field of Language Archives
Curation
Within this academic journal, Wasson et al provides the reader with both research and findings from their self-conducted workshop that sparks conversation between “fields of user-centered design (UCD) and language archives” (Wasson et al). Within the article itself, there is emphasis on the challenges of digital archiving in regard to language archiving, navigating cultural practices, and then using the understanding of these concepts to make informed archive design decisions. These concepts all arise within their workshop, “User-Centered Design of Language Archives.” Specifically, a very important discovery that is made within the workshop is how, “most language archives are not meeting the needs of most users” (Wasson et al).
I found the information within this article and, further, within their study, to be extremely informative of and pertinent to the study of digital archiving and the challenges that arise from the format of language. The focus on the user and user-based design is a step towards personalizing and adapting existing archives while also setting a new standard for language archives. As mentioned prior, this study not only analyzed existing archives, but it also uncovered flaws within the archiving practice. This showcases the relevancy and need for this study and I believe it also warrants the inclusion of such an item within the showcase.
Wasson, Christina
Holton, Gary
Roth, Heather S.
University of Hawaii Press
2016-11-16
Meagan Roge
Online Journal
ISSN: 1934-5275
Conserving Digital Resources: Issues and Future Access
Copyright
The following article explores the issues surrounding digital preservation. Especially when it comes to deciding what should and shouldn’t be preserved. In addition to that, it is important to note the ease in which something published online can be shared. Unlike something that was physically published/printed thus limiting who has access to it. As a result, the design of an archive requires constant though necessary management of activities over a long period of time. However, for that to work, guidelines need to be put in place prior to it being put into practice. As it helps with figuring out what to collect and save because not only does it limit system overload it keeps unnecessary things from getting in. That’s not to say that what wasn’t selected isn’t important, it just that like physical books it’d be really hard to save everything. On the flip side, “Born digital data is too voluminous and too fragile to be left to the caprice of short-term needs and priorities.” So, to help those who might be looking at something in the future saving selectively is key. That way just enough is needed to provide an accurate record, which is why looking at issues in various ways is essential.
Taylor & Francis
July-Sept., 2014
Hannah Baker
Journal Article
What Is A Data Archive And What Should The Information Specialist know about Managing Logically Maintained Numeric Data Files?
Archives
This journal provides information about what an archive is, in specific, numerical data. It explains why numeric data files are important, for things like statistic and the importance of having a data file where to reference things. Local databases should be acquired and maintained because some information is only available in computerized form and because information sometimes must be in digitized form to be retrieved or manipulated efficiently. Due to a lack of indexes, directories, or union lists of data files, particularly those that are not online, the process of identifying and locating data files is difficult. The Guide to Resources and Services, which gives descriptions of over 20,000 files, is one of the most useful directories. Format of the data file to be bought depends on the computer equipment at the local institution and the software available there. Decisions have to be made regarding the support level to be offered to users of the computerized information. Management of the data archives requires administrative skills as well as knowledge of data files and their applications. There is no standard budget for setting up and maintaining an archive of numeric data as the scope and structure of every organization varies.
Anne Gerken
ProQuest
August 1988
Antonella Federici
Journal
Discovering the Present, Preserving the Past: The Development of a Digital Archive at the University of Maryland
Curation
This journal article dissects the experiences and professional lessons absorbed through the development and planning of the University of Maryland Archive, implemented by the Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HS/HSL) at the University of Maryland. It delves into the archive’s historical background, beginning from the decisions made by the executive director of the Health Sciences and Human Services Library to commit staff and university resources to the creation and expansion of a digital repository purposed for the collection, preservation, and distribution of the university’s academic works, which included research reports, newsletters, meeting presentations, posters, among other visual and textual records. The article includes a developed project timeline with accompanying deliverables set in accordance to the goals and objectives of the project. It explores the technology implemented to achieve the maximum user appeal and functionality, reviewing institutional repository websites and actively seeking user feedback. Banners, attachments, and other visual customizations were incorporated into the archive by the project team, as well as auto-complete features for basic searches and advanced search options to augment user experience and commodity. It also documents the process of metadata management, digitization, licensing, and the development of a budget for its costs and the inclusion of additional staff for its upkeep.
Lin, Na and Hinegardner, Patricia G.
Journal of Electronic Resources in Medical Libraries, Taylor & Francis Online
2012-11-29
Taveras, Sabrina
Journal Article
ISSN: 1542-4065 (Print) 1542-4073 (Online)
Digital Church Archive: A to Z Instructions on Planning, Building and Maintaining a Digital Archive Department
Pedagogy
Digital just got simple. The Digital Church Archive was written to make the complexities of all things digital easier to understand, but goes beyond just understanding; it shows you how to use the information for your church, ministry or civic organization. Many are still helpless when it comes to understanding today's digital world. The Digital Church Archive takes years of knowledge and experience and converts it into easy, practical, step-by-step instruction for planning, building and maintaining a digital archive. You can feel confident in buying a domain, obtaining a hosting plan and building a website. Learn how to convert old cassettes into re-mastered digital audio productions, scan old photos and documents and digitally edit them for sharing with the whole world via the internet. Learn three easy-to-follow tips that will transform the look of your digital photography from that of an amateur to professional. Take the hassle out of determining what kind of computer, software, scanner and other equipment you will need to build a digital archive. Save hundreds to thousands of dollars by following the practical advice and instruction laid out in this easy-to-follow book and by making use of the free software and services recommended.
Barnett, Melvin E
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
2015
Johnson, Richard
Book
ISBN-13: 978-1512350890
Building Digital Archives, Descriptions, and Displays: A how-to-Do-It Manual for Archivists and Librarians (How-to-Do-It Manuals for Libraries)
Digital humanities
Noted archivist and library educator Frederick Stielow provides a comprehensive guide to efficiently adding content to the Web - and to creating Web-based descriptions and finding aids that will draw surfers to the library's, museum's, or other repository's Web site that houses them. All major digital approaches and languages - SGML, XML, and EAD (Encoded Archival Description) - as well as established descriptive standards such as the Dublin Core and Open URL are covered. Options for capturing images, sounds, and video resources and automated techniques for converting optical characters are explained step-by-step. As he did is his earlier critically acclaimed "Creating Virtual Libraries", Stielow provides much more than just technical guidance: he also discusses how to integrate digital archives (and their associated records) with turnkey library automation systems and provides a thorough discussion of policies regarding what to digitize and post. Here is the ideal primer for project management and the perfect general guide for managing digital archives.
Stielow, Frederick
Neal Schuman Pub
2003
Johnson, Richard
Book
ISBN-13: 978-1555704636
Web Archiving / Edition 1
Archives
This book assembles contributions from computer scientists and librarians that altogether encompass the complete range of tools, tasks and processes needed to successfully preserve the cultural heritage of the Web. It combines the librarian’s application knowledge with the computer scientist’s implementation knowledge, and serves as a standard introduction for everyone involved in keeping alive the immense amount of online information.
Masanès , Julien
Springer Science
2006
Johnson, Richard
Book
ISBN 10: 3540233385
Database Archiving: How to Keep Lots of Data for a Very Long Time
Archives
With the amount of data a business accumulates now doubling every 12 to 18 months, IT professionals need to know how to develop a system for archiving important database data, in a way that both satisfies regulatory requirements and is durable and secure. This important and timely new book explains how to solve these challenges without compromising the operation of current systems. It shows how to do all this as part of a standardized archival process that requires modest contributions from team members throughout an organization, rather than the superhuman effort of a dedicated team.
Olson, Jack E.
Morgan Kaufmann
2008
Johnson, Richard
Book
ISBN-10: 0123747201
Web Archives Long Term Access and Interoperability: The International Internet Preservation Consortium Activity
Web Archiving
The International Internet Preservation Consortium was created in July 2003 by twelve pioneer institutions already involved in Web archiving and including eleven national libraries. The objectives of the consortium are to provide a forum for sharing knowledge about Internet content archiving and to develop interoperable tools, methods and standards to acquire, archive and provide access to the archived web sites. At the end of the first three years of IIPC a full set of open source free tools for the whole processing chain will be released. The IIPC standardization activity covers the web archives format, the preservation metadata, and the permanent identification aspects focussing on very large archive specificity. (Provided by author)
Lupovici, Catherine
IFLA
2005-11
Eaddy, Brionna
Journal article