Documentation of Digital Long-Term Preservation WG

Objectives and tasks

Mission statement

According to OAIS, digital resources that have been stored in a digital long-term archive are processed in a way that facilitates their future use by the long-term archive’s designated communities. Documentation plays a significant role in this context. It is the only way to ensure comprehension of a digital long-term archive and its digital resources in the long term.
The term “documentation” has two meanings: firstly, it encompasses the process of collecting, organising and cataloguing resources (or “documents”), thus enabling target groups to find and use them. Secondly, “documentation” refers to descriptions of activities, processes and systems which are placed on record so that they can be tracked in the long term. With regard to digital long-term preservation, this includes the documentation of various work processes from the functional units of the OAIS model (ingest, preservation planning, archive storage etc.).
The nestor working group “Documentation of Digital Long-Term Preservation” addresses the question of what has to be documented during the process of digital long-term preservation, and how, where and why. This ensures that an entire digital long-term archive stays comprehensible in the long term for its designated communities – which also includes its stakeholders. The working group focuses primarily on the documentation of processes, systems and system components to which digital resources in a digital long-term archive are subject; they also concentrate on the documentation of the digital long-term archive as a facility as the documentation defines the normative framework for digital long-term preservation based on regulations (enacted for example by the legislator). The working group accordingly understands “documentation” as an activity that encompasses various levels of digital long-term preservation.
Based on theoretical considerations from OAIS, the working group sheds light on the possibilities of practical implementation as well as the limitations to which documentation is subject. These depend not only on the knowledge base of the respective designated communities but also on the regulatory provisions and HR, technical and financial capacities of the respective responsible institution. The working group accordingly intends to create a guideline for users which offers practical recommendations for documentation in digital long-term archives despite the sometimes conflicting requirements. It aims to close the gap between abstract criteria for trustworthy digital archives (DIN 31644) and detailed metadata standards such as PREMIS. The WG’s work mainly targets all interested persons and institutions who are involved in digital long-term preservation.

Contact

Katharina Markus - ZB MED – Information Centre for Life Sciences

Modification date: Dec 21, 2021