Assignment #6 (part 2): Digital Preservation Programs

The University of Iowa's Digital Library Services Department has an extensive, informative website outlining their digitization programs. The department creates and manages digital collections for campus libraries and consults with university faculty, staff, and community partners to produce digital resources. DLS works closely with Information Technology Services to coordinate efforts and reduce duplicate infrastructure. They also work "in consultation with the Preservation department, developing a plan for archival preservation and perpetual storage, with strategies to ensure availability of file formats and physical preservation of the storage media" (source). The website offers a description of their project development workflow and selection criteria. Preservation needs falls third on this list of criteria, coming after "enhancing existing library collections" and access needs. The digital collections are made available using CONTENTdm software.

(Image is from the Iowa Digital Library's cARTalog Digital Collection, artwork created from the library's retired catalog cards. I helped prep and install the physical version of this exhibit in 2005. The collection is a fun example of one way to "preserve" an obsolete technology. Clicking on the image - "Angleworms du jour" - will let you view it in context.)

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Most of our readings and discussion have focused on large research libraries and archives, since these are the places that tend to have dedicated preservation departments and extensive digitization projects, but I think it is important to keep in mind all of the unique and valuable archival collections found in smaller institutions – local historical societies, small private colleges, non-profit community organizations, and public high schools. For example, Berea College – a private liberal arts college in Kentucky serving students from the Appalachian region – has a very active digital preservation program for their sound archives, which focus on non-commercial concert and field recordings of Appalachian traditional music. Berea's sound preservation program & Appalachian Music Fellowship Program, both funded by a grant from the Ann Ray Charitable Trust, are good examples of how a small institution with a unique collection can both preserve and provide access to their holdings.

Without a campus-based infrastructure for their digital collections, Berea makes their digitized audio files available through the Digital Library of Appalachia, a consortium of regional colleges & universities. One of the great advantages of the DLA, in my opinion, is the fact that it can "bring together research resources that are currently scattered throughout geographically remote locations. The digital library allows items to be viewed side-by-side, even if they are physically located in different states. The opportunity for comparison and contrast will foster new learning about Appalachian experience"(source). The DLA site also provides a statement on copyright - they encourage Fair Use of the materials and explain how to get permissions from the holding institutions.