Workshop on preservation of databases

Long-term Preservation of Databases
ERPANET Workshop, co-hosted by the Swiss Federal Archives:
Swiss Federal Archives, Berne, Switzerland
April 9-11, 2003
Co-hosted by the Swiss Federal Archives
<URL:http://www.erpanet.org>

Databases have been, and continue to be, a key technology for the
storage, organisation, and interrogation of information. While the
value of other types of digital information has been highlighted in
recent years, databases and the information they contain have been
sidelined. Their preservation is of high concern as they are often
either irreplaceable or of such value that replacement would be
prohibitively expensive.

The workshop will cover the entire process of database preservation:
selection, appraisal, preservation, description, and access.
Technical solutions will occupy an important place in the workshop
and archival requirements will also be addressed.

Different institutional approaches will be presented and key areas
of difficulty and success offered. Breakout sessions will focus on
some of these identified areas, and attempt to posit solutions and
strategies for this difficult challenge.

Erpaworkshops are expert meetings to promote and develop new
approaches to preservation challenges. Participation is encouraged
from specialists in the archival, scientific, and IT spheres, and
those with theoretical and/or practical experience in the field of
database preservation.

Programme:

    Wednesday April 9, 2003
        Opening (9 a.m.)
        General introduction to the subject
        Concrete solutions: approaches chosen, practical experiences

    Thursday April 10, 2003
        Specific topics: Selection, appraisal, description,
        preservation

    Friday April 11, 2003
        Access and reusability
        Conclusions
        Closing (around 12 p.m.)

Information about the finalised programme, speakers, social
programme, and registration will be sent out in February 2003.

Monica Greenan
ERPANET British Editor
Humanities Advanced Technology and Information Institute (HATII)
George Service House,
11 University Gardens,
University of Glasgow
Glasgow G12 8QJ
Scotland
+44 141 330 3549
Fax: +44 141 330 3788


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 16:45
                 Distributed: Friday, January 24, 2003
                       Message Id: cdl-16-45-009
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