Making Progress in Digital Preservation: Digital Continuity

Editor's Notes

• #3: 1) Digital Preservation Project: 2010-2015 2) Implemented digital repository, Preservica EE, plus associated infrastructure and support models. 3) Aim is not to focus on the digital repository. Despite its importance and complexity, it's still a piece of technology. Consequently one form of progress. 4) Equally important are the workflows, processes, and advocacy efforts which play a vital role in progressing digital preservation.
• #4: 1) In Parliament, we have begun to frame this process as Digital Continuity. 2) But what does Digital Continuity actually mean? It’s the ability to use your information in the way you need, for as long as you need. 3) It combines both digital preservation and records management activities. 4) A joint effort between the Preservation & Access, and Information and Records Mgmt Service (IRMS) teams. 5) We are by no means the first org to attempt this work, the TNA, NANZ and Australian Government have all attempted similar approaches.
• #5: 1) Clear benefit of DC / DigiPres considered as early as possible 2) Bite size principles which appeal to org drivers 3) Clear and concise, no mention of technical terms, concepts, or even the term digital preservation itself 4) Plug TNA!
• #6: 1) Now that we are clear what the Archives want to achieve, we now need a good Strategy and Action Plan 2) Documents don't have to be extensive. Strategy only one page 3) Both Strategy and Action Plan yet to be fully formed, in Beta mode if you like… 4) Don't underestimate time and efforts required to form these pieces of work 5) Worth doing as they form a clear path towards making progress. Not just for yourself, but wider stakeholders (e.g. PDS, Information Security, Programmes and Projects)
• #7: A practical, and perhaps mundane way of making progress was to organise an initial DC workshop with PDS A significant amount of work went into identifying stakeholders and gaining the necessary buy-in from senior mgmt. Hours of work across teams over a number of months Initial brainstorms and informal catch ups led to proposal and worship agenda Soft skills in evidence. Gradual process of gaining momentum and allies Workshop resulted in concrete action points with defined timescales NZNA DC Action Plan a good example of output with achievable and realistic goals
• #8: Advocacy for digital preservation a constant thread thought-out all of the Archives work Getting the point across to staff that they'll be able to find and use the digital information they need to do their job, rather than simply preserving permanently
• #9: 1) Questions to consider: Who are we targeting? What do we want to say? What's the key message we want to get across? Do we want them to learn something, or do something? 2) Answers to these type of questions will result in a broad range of work 3) Good examples include Digital Continuity FAQ's produced for internal intranet – results in greater awareness across staff and single source of authoritative information 4) Presentation from external speaker on topic
• #10: Long term goal is to form a Technology Watch process Just imagine a process… Complex landscape… Have to admit I struggled with concept at first However, broke it down into smaller chunks and practical steps E.g. Initial research, collab with other orgs, risk register, IAR with IRMS Challenge remains to tie Tech Watch work into wider information mgmt picture – need help from IRMS!
• #11: Tech Watch illustrates gap between theory and practice Plenty of literature surrounding Tech Watch but little in the way of best practice To make progress… start off small and build up
• #12: If you only take away one piece of advice for making progress… Find what works… Not what's popular You will all have similar challenges, but in differing contexts Find what works in your org - not necessarily what everyone else is doing Digital Continuity very much a government approach towards managing digital information Lesions learnt can be shared across communities
• #13: Oh, and keep it simple! Digital preservation can often seem complex It doesn't have to be Start small, stay practical, and iterate in incremental steps