Tyler WaltersDean, University Libraries and ProfessorVirginia Tech

July 18, 2013

Collaboratively Preserving Our Digital Memory

History and Current PracticesPhilosophyResearchPractical Application

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Distributed digital preservation cooperative Founded 2004Supported by NDIIPP, NHPRC, NEH, IMLSPreservation aims: prevent loss and

corruption from human malice/error or from a disaster

First preservation network to preserve special collections/unique materials

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Basic processes “Producer” (OAIS) determines curation

practices; brings SIPs to MetaArchive (low entry barriers)

Multiple copies of AIPs, dispersed across geographical, political, and environmental lines

Checks and repairs automated across network

Handles versioning, deaccession gracefully

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60 member institutions in four countries Public, private, and academic libraries 200+ TB network preserving 1000+ AUs

(collections) Ingest via webcrawl or BagIt Regular testing of restoration processes TRAC audit 2010; will pursue certification

under ISO 16363 once there are certified auditors (ISO 16919 not yet approved)

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Three membership levels Collaborative members: $2.5K/year Preservation members: $3K/year Sustaining members: $5.5K/year

Server cost: <$5K/3 yearsStorage cost: $1K/TB/year

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Undertake a 3-year membership term; Take responsibility for content

preparation, evaluation, staging, and plugin development;

Monitor collections to ensure accurate long-term preservation;

Host and maintain a MetaArchive cache

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Common, neutral centerDistribution of workCommunity of engagement

Building knowledge Accomplishing preservation

Concentrated effort toward unified goal

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Founded on the premise that memory organizations should maintain their historical role as cultural stewards Preservation of digital assets as corollary to preserving

physical ones Need in house expertise and knowledge Value of curators and librarians and archivists

Chose technical and organizational infrastructure that capitalizes on memory organization proven methodologies Distributed preservation Partnership to keep costing affordable

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MetaArchive is a cooperative, not a vendor: All hardware and software assets are owned by members Membership fees and storage fees go to a central pool

of support for members’ co-op activities

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Compatible with any repository system E.g., Dspace, Fedora, Archivalware, ETDb,

CONTENTdm, BePress, etc Member institutions determine their

own curatorial practices MetaArchive is a community of

support to help them make informed decisions

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Reducing short- and long-term costs Investing in a commonly-owned solution, not purchasing a

service Sharing technological development and organizational tasks

Decentralizing activities Safety in digital preservation may well reside in shared

knowledge and shared commitment

Decreasing silos; increasing interdependence There is room for various types of solutions Increased capacity for acting as a community of cultural

stewards

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Chronicles in Preservation (NEH, 2012-14) Deliverables: Guidelines, Comparative

Analysis of Distributed Digital Preservation Frameworks, Interoperability Tools

Lifecycle Management for ETDs (IMLS, 2012-14) Guidance Documents, Workshop and

Training Materials, Lifecycle Management Tools

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Distributed Digital Preservation Frameworks (Royal Library of Denmark/Educopia, 2011-2013) Partnership with DDP practitioners (Internet Archive,

Royal Library Denmark, Chronopolis, DuraCloud, etc) Establishing framework for evaluating/auditing

distributed preservation environments ICONC (Library of Congress, 2013)

Deliverables: surveys and reports on gaps and opportunities for collaborative preservation

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Based on ANADP volume (SAA digital preservation publication award winner 2013) and alignment tracks charted therein

Action assembly—highly participatory event

Studying and actualizing alignment trajectories across nations and sectors

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NHPRC: Earlier research with Chronopolis: created business plan and exit strategy

ICONC: identifying gaps/opportunities for preservation alignment activities

NEH/IMLS projects: BagIt implementation Curation guidelines to facilitate proper SIP

preparation (Matt, fill in)

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