Preservation Strategies for Electronic Records: Where We Are Now—Obliquity and Squint?

Abstract

70T h e A m e r i c a n A r c h i v i s t , V o l . 6 5 ( S p r i n g / S u m m e r 2 0 0 2 ) : 7 0 -1 0 6Preservation Strategies for Electronic Records: Where We Are Now-Obliquity and Squint?Michèle V. Cloonan and Shelby Sanett A b s t r a c tThis article reports on a survey of the activities of thirteen institutions and projects in the United States and abroad that employ or are exploring strategies to preserve authentic electronic records. These strategies include preservation techniques (e.g., refreshing, migration, emulation); selection for preservation; staffing configurations; cost modeling; access to preserved records; and policymaking. Particular attention is paid to three broad areas: the evolution of the definition of "preservation," the role of costing in preserving electronic records, and the gap in policy development in which to situate and strategize the present and future preservation of electronic records. By documenting the variety of approaches that are being taken, the authors seek not only to shed light on current practices, but also to offer informed consideration on where preservation might be headed.

The Preservation of Digital Content

“…11 In that study we found that a number of preservation techniques were in use Some progress has been made since 2000; institutions are beginning to think about cost issues and models, but they have been slow to develop digital preservation policies and plans.…”

Conceptual Paper: Digital Preservation Strategies in Archival Institution

“…An effective digital records preservation strategy should incorporate formal policies and procedures governing the agency approach for the maintenance and preservation of digital records. The development of a good public policy requires the appropriate political climate as well as the cooperation of numerous stakeholders [7]. Cloonan and Sannet suggested that in designing the policy, it must be in line with the current politic environment.…”

“…Russell and Weinberger (2000) suggest that the ongoing costs of digital preservation span a more extended timeframe than traditional preservation and will therefore require resource commitments of a different nature. According to Cloonan and Sanett (2002), the strategies in the preservation of electronic records must include the estimation of cost; includes the cost for staff, equipment, space, energy, research and development, and other related costs. These elements are important to ensure that the preservation processes and procedures can be ongoing and be completed in time.…”

“…The cost modeling should also include the cost for the access of the materials, cost for long term creation and maintenance of digital materials, production of metadata, supplies, contingency and administration [7]. It is important for digital records to be maintained regularly to ensure its accessibility at present and for future use.…”

So much to learn, so little time to learn it: North American archival education programs in the information age and the role for certificate programs

“…Today's archivists and manuscript curators are faced with technological challenges few imagined only a decade ago, when the World Wide Web was a novelty, Encoded Archival Description barely a concept, and digital asset management systems yet-to-be-created. Still thought by many to be a world of vellum, paper and dust, technology is now an ever present aspect of archival life (Wisser 2003;Prom 2002;Guercio 2001;Newhall 2000;Cloonan and Sanett 2002;Kesner 1998;Piche 1998;Gilliland-Swetland 1998;Bantin 1998;Henry 1998;Greenberg 1998). In arguing that the content of archival education programs in the United Kingdom has grown beyond the confines of traditional one year programs, David Vaisey (2001) writes, ''... the computer has altered the way we do things, and altered too the nature and form of the material within our care, so that there is an additional technical load to be added to what was already there (p. 232).…”