Author: Mandy Mastrovita

It’s time again to recognize the role of #archives, #archivists, #libraries, and #librarians in preserving digital records today on #WDPD2023!

Are you a custodian of cultural heritage materials? 

Have you made them available online? 

Have you thoughtfully considered long-term preservation as well as access to your materials?

One of the main mottos of digital preservation is “Digitization is NOT Digital Preservation.”

That is to say, the digitization and hosting of your items online are great for access, but this is still not preservation. 

We completely understand that most people don’t have the bandwidth to thoughtfully consider long-term preservation as well as access–but please remember there are people and resources that you can call upon to ensure your digital content is preserved.

World Digital Preservation Day is our opportunity to remind you that digital preservation professionals can teach you:

• • some of the easiest ways for people to get started with digital preservation at their institutions or with their personal materials.
  • what people should preserve first.
  • what happens when people don’t put together a plan to preserve their digital content.
  • Contact us if you have questions.

DIGITAL LIBRARY OF GEORGIA RESOURCES ON DIGITAL PRESERVATION

• • The DLG has several webinars available for you to see ways digital preservation has been approached in Georgia and other Southern states:
    • Our Georgia Archives Month 2023 webinar: Digital Preservation 101: Intro to Digital Preservation Basics (Josh Kitchens, Georgia Public Library Service)
    • Digital Preservation for Libraries: What It Is, Why You Need It, and How You Can Get Started, Mary Willoughby (Digital Library of Georgia), GPLS Tech Bootcamp 2019
    • Preservation in a Digital World, Ashley Shull (Athens-Clarke County Public Library), Brandon Pieczko (University of Georgia), Mary Willoughby (Digital Library of Georgia), GALILEO Annual Conference 2019
    • What’s in Your Bag? Practical tools and strategies for scalable digital preservation, Society of Georgia Archivists Annual Meeting 2018
    • An Introduction to Digital Preservation, Elizabeth La Beaud (Mississippi Digital Library), 2019

• • The DLG also offers a slate of digital preservation services that we encourage you to contact us about, should you have any questions.

MORE RESOURCES ON DIGITAL PRESERVATION

• For non-digital preservationists: 
  • Visit the World Digital Preservation Day website 
  • Read the series of “Discover Good Practice Technology Watch Publications”, prepared and organized by the Digital Preservation Coalition, and designed for non-digital preservationists!
  • Take a look at Amy Rudersdorf’s article on “The benefits and drawbacks of DIY digital preservation”
  • There is also helpful information in the American Library Association (ALA)’s LibGuides on digital preservation.

• For professionals (librarians, archivists, curators) wanting to dig deeper:

• • Read last year’s WDPD2022 posts from other blogs around the world 
  • Take a look at the Library of Congress’ Recommended Formats Statement for 2023-2024 to just get a taste of some best practices.
  • Browse through NDSA and DLF’s Digital Preservation Glossary.
  • Read more about The Digital Preservation Coalition
  • Look at the revised 2nd edition of the Digital Preservation Handbook, a great place to start for getting started with digital preservation 
  • Nominate at-risk digital materials at The Bit List of Digitally Endangered Species
  • Consult the Executive Guide on Digital Preservation, to help talk to others in your organization about digital preservation
  • Find helpful online modules on how to train your staff on digital preservation
  • Find timely information on how to manage digital preservation from the Exact Editions blog, and articles on preservation authored by staff at the University of Michigan Library on their blog.
  • GitHub also has great content on  digital preservation tools and strategies 

FOLLOW WORLD DIGITAL PRESERVATION DAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA

• • • Follow #WDPD2023 today, as well as: @CLIRnews, @dpc_chat, @ICArchive, @matthewpburgess, @NDSA2, @CLIRDLF, @digipreserve, and @Sarah_DPC beyond to keep up with what some of our leading digital preservationists have to say!