For
Immediate Release,
April 15, 2008
Definition
of digital preservation announced
CHICAGO - The Preservation and
Reformatting Section (PARS) of the Association for Library Collections &
Technical Services (ALCTS) is pleased to announce the publication of a
definition of digital preservation. The definition is available on the
ALCTS Web site at http://www.ala.org/ala/alcts/newslinks/digipres/index.cfm.
The definition was developed to promote an
understanding of digital preservation within the library community, as well as
our allied professions and the user communities we exist to serve. This
definition is presented to mark our current understanding of digital
preservation and encourage further development of these ideas.
This definition grew out of a conversation
held at the Digital Preservation Discussion Group at the ALA Midwinter Meeting
in 2007. An ad hoc task force crafted language that was shared with a number of
constituencies during the spring and early summer of 2007. The definition
was discussed and approved by the PARS Executive Committee during the 2008 Midwinter
Meeting in Philadelphia.
The ALCTS Board of Directors approved it during Midwinter, and the definition
was presented to and accepted by Council as an informational document.
The definition is being incorporated into the forthcoming revision of the current
ALA Preservation Policy currently being undertaken by PARS.
The working group studied a number of
resources to familiarize itself with the critical elements of digital
preservation identified by a broad selection of individuals and agencies. These
ideas were cast into language that speaks to a wide variety of stakeholders
while also being consistent with the core preservation concepts that have
developed in the library and archival communities.
The core concepts are presented in a
short, medium and long version to accommodate a variety of needs. The long
version includes a number of currently accepted best practices but is not
intended to be an exhaustive list. As more is learned about implementing digital
preservation programs, the definitions should be reviewed and revised on a
regular basis.
The definition will be reviewed and
updated as needed.
ALCTS is a division of the American
Library Association.
Cathleen L. Martyniak
Preservation Department
University
of Florida Smathers
Libraries
Gainesville,
FL 32611
(voice) 352 273 2830
(fax) 352 392 6597
(email) cathy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx