6: Digital Preservation & Stewardship with Trevor Owens #LibraryTalk
Jul 5, 2019
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Trevor Owens, the first Head of Digital Content Management at the Library of Congress, shares his expertise in digital preservation and stewardship. He discusses the growing challenge of preserving electronic records and emphasizes the importance of community involvement. Trevor offers practical guidance on initiating effective digital preservation efforts. His insights reveal the key principles necessary to ensure access to digital records long-term, inviting listeners to connect with the broader international community.
Digital preservation must be viewed as an ongoing commitment that integrates social and organizational aspects rather than merely technical solutions.
Community engagement and collaboration are essential for effective digital stewardship, facilitating the sharing of knowledge and resources among practitioners.
Deep dives
The Significance of Digital Preservation
Digital preservation is crucial for ensuring long-term access to electronic information and capturing digital heritage. The increasing reliance on technology raises concerns about whether online records will remain accessible indefinitely. Trevor Owens, an expert in digital content management, emphasizes the necessity of treating digital preservation as an ongoing endeavor, akin to physical preservation, rather than a one-time task. This ongoing commitment underscores the importance of establishing robust practices that address the complexities of managing digital records.
Principles for Effective Digital Stewardship
Owens presents a framework consisting of 16 key principles that serve as foundational concepts for digital preservation efforts. These principles encourage practitioners to view digital preservation beyond mere technical solutions, highlighting its social and organizational aspects. A significant point made is that institutions, rather than just software, are responsible for enabling long-term access to digital materials. By acknowledging the multifaceted challenges associated with digital stewardship, organizations can adopt a more proactive approach to preserving valuable records.
Challenges and Misconceptions in Digital Preservation
A major challenge in digital preservation arises from common misconceptions regarding the roles of tools and institutions. Many organizations mistakenly equate backing up data with genuine digital preservation, neglecting the need for ongoing management and access strategies. Owens stresses that hoarding data is not equivalent to preserving it, as effective preservation requires organization and engagement with the information. Furthermore, he points out that the boundaries of digital objects are often unclear, which complicates preservation efforts and necessitates careful definition and strategy.
Taking Action Towards Digital Preservation
The episode concludes with practical steps that individuals and organizations can take to further their digital preservation initiatives. Owens encourages a proactive mindset towards identifying and preserving essential digital materials, along with establishing plans to maintain and check on them regularly. It is also emphasized that community engagement and collaboration are vital for sharing knowledge and resources in this field. By leveraging available guides and networks, anyone can contribute to the important work of digital preservation, ensuring that valuable digital heritage is not lost.
This episode of The Next Page is for anyone interested in digital preservation and stewardship. As digital records increase within organisations and communities, how do we ensure electronic records are preserved and accessible in the long-term? What are the opportunities and what can we do now? In this Library Science Talk, held at the UN Library Geneva as part of the AILIS programme for 2019, Dr. Trevor Owens from the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. shares key principles for supporting digital stewardship, as well as the actions that can be taken today to progress in the practice and connect with others in the international community.
Dr. Trevor Owens currently serves as the first Head of Digital Content Management at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. He works as a librarian, researcher, policy-maker and educator in the field of digital infrastructure for libraries, and is the author of the book The Theory and Craft of Digital Preservation, published in 2018: https://bit.ly/2FUK1is. To find out more, visit his website: http://www.trevorowens.org/.
This talk took place on 20 May 2019 at the UN Library Geneva.
Content:
Speaker: Trevor Owens.
Host: Natalie Alexander.
Editor & Sound Editor: Natalie Alexander.
Image: Trevor Owens.
Recorded and produced at the UN Library Geneva.
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