The personal curation of digital objects

Abstract

Purpose -This paper aims to set out a coherent intellectual framework to help to better understand how people create, organise, manage, use and dispose of their personal digital archives. The context for this is the increasing volume and diversity of digital information objects being captured and stored by individuals in their personal capacities and the need to find ways to preserve this material for posterity. Design/methodology/approach -The research presented here is based on literature analysis, the questions having been informed by an earlier series of in-depth interviews. The approach taken is to synthesise key concepts from the computer science, information management, and archives and records management literatures. Key concepts from the existing literature in computer science, information management, and archives and records management were elicited and synthesised to create a coherent document lifecycle narrative. Findings -Individuals exhibit great diversity in terms of personal information management and digital archiving practice at just about every point in the digital information cycle: much more so than is the case in formal repositories. Practices exhibited are not always conducive to efficient document management. This represents a very keen challenge for professional curatorial practice. Practical implications -Little is known about how individuals manage digital information resources in their personal capacity, outside of their corporate or institutional employment. Yet both individuals on their own and professional curators on behalf of repositories are increasingly being faced with the challenge of how to deal with digital media. It is hoped that this paper will contribute to a growing debate in this area. Originality/value -Personal information management from the perspective of personal digital archives is a surprisingly under-researched area and the proposed model adopts an archival information lifecycle approach. It seeks to apply and promote an archivally-oriented personal information management.

Data organization and preservation in the context of digital and networked media

“…On the other side, a smaller percentage of respondents use a cloud service (37.4%). This is also compatible with individuals' inconsistencies in practiced methods presented in Marčetić's study (2014) and with individuals exhibiting great diversity in their personal information management and personal digital archiving practices in the study of Gwizdka and Chignell (2007) and Williams, Leighton and Rowland (2009).…”

“…Ashenfelder (2013) also suggests a technical solution which places personal archiving in the cloud. And even if technological power and digital systems' capacity support people's creative instincts and induce their appetite for digital content (Beagrie 2005, Williams, Leighton andRowland 2009), they still haven't adapted to individuals' discontinuity of interests which has a great impact on their curation practices. So, besides good and effective software, Fourie (2011Fourie ( , 2012 suggests collaboration as a key to personal information management and reference management.…”

Academic Libraries as Data Quality Hubs

“…Libraries can also offer assistance in the form of instruction, not radically different from existing information literacy programs, particularly around practical tools and processes pertaining to personal digital curation (Williams et al, 2009). Such instruction could be especially helpful at institutions where the culture is that of extreme decentralization or sparse collaboration.…”

“…Curation involves ways of organizing, displaying, and repurposing preserved data. (p. 12) Digital preservation and digital curation practices are addressed widely in the literature (ARL, 2006;Curry, Freitas, & O'Riain, 2010;Goble, Stevens, Hull, Wolstencroft, & Lopez, 2008;Heidorn, 2011;JISC, 2004;Ogburn, 2010;Williams, John, & Rowland, 2009). Digital curation aims to make selected data accessible, usable, and useful throughout its lifecycle.…”

Technology, Society, and Visioning The Future of Music Festivals

“…Digital curation, as lead by information professionals (Elizabeth, 2007), has been slow to develop (P. Williams, John, & Rowland, 2009), but with of interconnecting artificial neurons (programming constructs that mimic the properties of biological neurons). Through reversal deactivation techniques the cerebral network is dynamic, contributing to several (positive) behavior attributes and competencies.…”