Preservation in the Digital Age: A Review of Preservation Literature, 2009-10

Preservation in the Digital Age: A Review of Preservation Literature, 2009-10

Archives

In response to a ten-year gap between publishing surveys on library collections preservation, Karen F. Gracey and Miriam B. Kahn conducted an extensive review of the literature on digitization and preservation of libraries and archives. The literature includes such non-traditional sources as multimedia conference proceedings and blogs. Although their printed bibliography contains mainly traditional academic sources, including research articles and book chapters, their entire survey is available online.

The authors classify the literature into categories based on areas of current professional interest and emphasize the critical issues and key resources for digital archivists, librarians, and curators. Overarching issues for preservation include the transition from being a largely custodial function to developing principles for long-term preservation and the development of tools for promoting greater intellectual access to the content. By combining curatorial principles with traditional preservation and risk management functions, digital archives, libraries, and museums are adopting similar, standardized practices. Several articles discuss the development of standard metadata schemes for multiple and heterogeneous artefacts and the corresponding open-access tool kits and consortiums dedicated to fostering systematic methods for digital preservation.

Recommendations for implementing strategic planning recur throughout most of the articles, including those in the last section, “The New Preservationist.” Gracey and Kahn emphasize taking a wide view of the lifecycle and the potential uses of digital materials. One of the underlying themes is the expressed desire for robust, technical and organizational standards, matched by an awareness that universal standards, practices, funding, and digital curation skills are lagging behind the needs.

This paper surveys research and professional literature on preservation-related topics published in 2009 and 2010, identifies key contributions to the field in periodicals, monographs, and research reports, and provides a guide to the changing landscape of preservation in the digital age. The authors have organized the reviewed literature into five major areas of interest: tensions in preservation work as libraries embrace digital resources, mass digitization and its effects on collections, risk management and disaster response, digital preservation and curation, and education for preservation in the digital age.

"The Physical and Virtual: Libraries and Collections in Transition"

"Mass Digitization and Its Impact on Preservation Activities

"Risk Management"

"From Preservation to Curation: Lifecycle of Digital Materials

"The New Preservationist"

Gracey, Karen F.

Kahn, Miriam B.

Library Resources & Technical Services

2012

Polk, Victoria

Copyright 2011 Karen F. Gracy

Journal Article

http://downloads.alcts.ala.org/lrts/digitalage_bib1111.pdf

Gracey, Karen F. and Miriam B. Kahn. “Preservation in the Digital Age: A Review of Preservation Literature.” Library Resources & Technical Services 56 (January 2012): 25-43.

Gracey and Kahn supply a comprehensive bibliography on issues, strategies, and professional development designated for anyone interested in developing or maintaining a digital collection. There are several articles that contain highly technical information, but are included to provide a broad appreciation of the complexity of digital preservation. This addition to the Digital Archiving Resources collection provides a resource for further research into the major components of digitizing collections, as well as an overview of the most current issues facing the profession.