The theory and craft of digital preservation

Title:

Author:

Owens, Trevor author

ISBN:

9781421426976

Publication:

Baltimore, Maryland : Johns Hopkins University Press, [2018]

Physical Description:

x, 226 pages : illustrations, charts ; 22 cm

Contents:

Preservation's divergent lineages -- Understanding digital objects -- Challenges and opportunities of digital preservation -- The craft of digital preservation -- Preservation intent and collection development -- Managing copies and formats -- Arranging and describing digital objects -- Enabling multimodal access and use -- Conclusions: tools for looking forward.

Abstract:

"Among the public, there is a persistent belief that if something is on the Internet, it will be around forever. At the same time, warnings of an impending "digital dark age," where records of the recent past become completely lost or inaccessible, appear in the popular press. In The Theory and Craft of Digital Preservation, Trevor Owens offers a path to go beyond the hyperbole and the anxiety of the digital and establish a baseline for practice in this field. The first section of the book synthesizes work on the history of preservation in a range of areas (archives, manuscripts, recorded sound, etc.) and sets that history in dialogue with work in new media studies, platform studies, and media archeology. The later chapters build from this theoretical framework as a basis for an iterative process for the practice of doing digital preservation. While the book has a practical bent, it is not a how-to book that would quickly become outdated. It establishes and offers stages and processes for doing digital preservation, but it is not tied to particular tools, methods, or techniques. Instead, it is anchored in an understanding of the traditions of preservation and the nature of digital objects and media"-- Provided by publisher.

Subject Term:

Digital preservation.

Digital libraries -- Management.

Digital libraries -- Management. (OCoLC)fst01767163

Digital preservation. (OCoLC)fst00893721

Local Subject:

LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE COLLECTION

Available:

Library	Call Number	Material Type	Status
Searching... State Library of Oregon	025.84 Owens	4-Week Loan	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

A guide to managing data in the digital age.

Winner of the ALCTS Outstanding Publication Award by the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, Winner of the Waldo Gifford Leland Award by the Society of American Archivists

Many people believe that what is on the Internet will be around forever. At the same time, warnings of an impending "digital dark age"--where records of the recent past become completely lost or inaccessible--appear with regular frequency in the popular press. It's as if we need a system to safeguard our digital records for future scholars and researchers. Digital preservation experts, however, suggest that this is an illusory dream not worth chasing. Ensuring long-term access to digital information is not that straightforward; it is a complex issue with a significant ethical dimension. It is a vocation.

In The Theory and Craft of Digital Preservation , librarian Trevor Owens establishes a baseline for practice in this field. In the first section of the book, Owens synthesizes work on the history of preservation in a range of areas (archives, manuscripts, recorded sound, etc.) and sets that history in dialogue with work in new media studies, platform studies, and media archeology. In later chapters, Owens builds from this theoretical framework and maps out a more deliberate and intentional approach to digital preservation.

A basic introduction to the issues and practices of digital preservation, the book is anchored in an understanding of the traditions of preservation and the nature of digital objects and media. Based on extensive reading, research, and writing on digital preservation, Owens's work will prove an invaluable reference for archivists, librarians, and museum professionals, as well as scholars and researchers in the digital humanities.

Author Notes

Trevor Owens, the head of digital content management for library services at the Library of Congress, is an adjunct faculty member at American University and the University of Maryland.

Summary:

Reviews (1)

Choice Review

This "guidebook" aims to synthesize extensive research and scholarly communication related to the subject. Owens (Library of Congress) presents a conceptual architecture and theoretical framework to guide practice but without providing systematic instructions. He does not approach theory and practice as dichotomies but as integrated principles, which is a strength of this work. Owens presents 16 "axioms" to guide thought and action in digital preservation. The eight chapters are organized around the philosophy, theory, technology, and practice of digital preservation. They clarify preservation and (or versus) conservation and what a digital object is; address institutional policy frameworks, digital collection development, and preservational intent; and provide examples of tools for future preservation action. The discussion on formats and the transfer of content spans bit preservation, fixity and obsolescence, information security, and migration at both large and small institutions. Normalization is vital to digital data and content management before and after migrating digital content between digital repository platforms. Other aspects of preservation, such as description and arrangement, are important with roots in pre-digital practices. Breaking away from preservationist orthodoxy, this work provides valuable insights on digital preservation for both practical and didactic purposes. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students through professionals. --Arjun Sabharwal, University of Toledo

Acknowledgments	p. vii
Introduction
Beyond Digital Hype and Digital Anxiety	p. 1
Chapter 1 Preservation's Divergent Lineages	p. 12
Chapter 2 Understanding Digital Objects	p. 34
Chapter 3 Challenges and Opportunities of Digital Preservation	p. 54
Chapter 4 The Craft of Digital Preservation	p. 72
Chapter 5 Preservation Intent and Collection Development	p. 81
Chapter 6 Managing Copies and Formats	p. 103
Chapter 7 Arranging and Describing Digital Objects	p. 128
Chapter 8 Enabling Multimodal Access and Use	p. 159
Conclusions
Tools for Looking Forward	p. 187
Notes	p. 201
Bibliography	p. 209
Index	p. 221

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Table of Contents