Policy provides a roadmap for actions to be taken in any task. It plays an important role in successful implementation of any program. Similarly, the presence of policy also plays a key role in implementation of digital preservation program. The organizations having such policy hold an edge for carrying out their digital preservation activities in an organized manner. This paper provides an explicit overview regarding preparedness of libraries and other organizations across the world in terms of availability of policies for digital preservation. The paper also attempts to map the data geographically. The empirical studies were reviewed systematically, and the extracted data was synthesized for producing meaningful insight about this phenomenon. The meta-analysis affirms that libraries and other organizations seem to have realization about importance of policies for implementation of digital preservation program. Although some studies highlight the availability of digital preservation policies in a good number of organizations yet, as a whole, most of the studies point out passive organizational attitude toward the development of such policies. The data mapping affirms that the studies conducted worldwide and North American region show a satisfactory situation in terms of availability of digital preservation policies. However, the studies conducted in European countries, African region, China, and New Zealand identify a gap regarding presence of such policies.
Digital preservation encompasses policies, technologies, and strategies to ensure that digital objects and collections will sustain for future use. This study aimed at investigating the trends toward digital preservation in terms of in-house activities versus outsourcing by systematically reviewing the extant literature. The relevant studies were identified by accessing multiple databases and indexing and abstracting services. After retrieving the relevant literature, necessary filtering was done by following the PRISMA protocols, and thereafter the selected studies were finalized for further review. The meta-analysis of the final studies affirms a strong global preference of libraries, archives, and other cultural and memory organizations toward in-house activities for the preservation of their digital objects and collections compared to outsourcing digital preservation activities by third parties. The results of this study provide a holistic view of how digital assets are being preserved in memory institutions across the world and underpin the global management (in-house or outsourced) approaches for digital preservation.
For implementation of effective and efficient digital preservation programs, librarians and other professionals in the memory institutions need to have sufficient levels of awareness of digital preservation key concepts, strategies, tools, and standards/best practices. This survey aimed to investigate the awareness of librarians in Pakistani universities about these components. The population of the study included the librarians working in the central libraries of public sector universities and degree awarding institutions (DAIs) of Pakistan established before 2010. A questionnaire was developed after reviewing the relevant literature and was thereafter pilot tested in selected libraries. After successful completion of this phase, data was collected from the target population. A total of 178 responses were received from 63 out of 70 universities and DAIs. Overall, respondents showed a good level of awareness of different components of digital preservation.
Purpose
The purpose of the paper was to outline the
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on the review of relevant literature.
Findings
The study provides a broader overview of the role community libraries (CLs) can play in extending their role to a more vibrant perspective.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the paper is the first of its kind that provides an overview regarding extension of the role of CLs towards digital preservation.
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