Ensuring Long-term Access to ETDs through Distributed Digital Preservation

Gail McMillan

Director, Digital Library and Archives Virginia Tech

Newcomers’ Workshop @ ETDs 2008

Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland

What is Digital Preservation?

Systematic management of digital works over an indefinite period of time Processes and activities that ensure the

continued access to works in digital formats Requires ongoing attention--constant input

of effort, time, and money Technological and organizational change are

obstacles for preserving beyond a few years.

Backup/IRs vs. Digital Preservation

Backups are tactical measures--typically stored in a single location (often nearby or collocated with the servers backed up) and performed only periodically. Backups address short-term data loss via minimal investment of money and staff time resources. Backups are not a comprehensive solution to the problem of preserving information over time.

Digital preservation is strategic--a geographically dispersed set of secure caches. A true digital preservation program requires multi-institutional collaboration and at least some ongoing investment to realistically address the issues involved in preserving information over time.

Distributed Digital Preservation Network

Effective preservation succeeds by replicating copies of content in secure, distributed locations over time.

Security reduces the likelihood that any single cache will be compromised.

Distribution reduces the likelihood that the loss of any single cache will lead to a loss of the preserved information.

A single organization is unlikely to have the capability to operate several geographically dispersed and securely maintained servers.

Inter-institutional agreements will ensure commitment to act in concert over time.

MetaArchive: Distributed Digital Preservation Networks Across the World through the NDTLD

Programmatically collects ETDs from host universities

Preserves content among partners’ servers – Low cost to administer and run – Standard hardware, free software– Audits and repairs content as needed from host or

partners Dark Archive only

ETD File Formats

85% PDF 30% JPG 27% WAV 24% GIF 23% HTML, MOV 21% AVI, MP3

MetaArchive Conspectus Database

ETD Preservation Survey Do you have experience with or knowledge of LOCKSS-

based preservation networks?69.89% YES 30.11% NO

Would your institution be interested in an ETD-specific LOCKSS-based collaborative distributed digital archive sponsored by the NDLTD?

42.1% YES49.5% MAYBE 8.4% NO

There’s still time to participate in the ETD preservation survey.

http://lumiere.lib.vt.edu/surveys/ Select Digital Preservation of ETDs

The results are immediately available http://lumiere.lib.vt.edu/surveys/results/