JISC: Making the Most of Digital Resources

A recent JISC-funded report has highlighted the importance of having clearly stated preservation policies to guarantee the future of digital resources. Key findings from the ‘Digitisation Programme Digital Preservation Study’ include:

• External examination … or audit … can change practice for the better merely by asking the right questions.
• Without a written preservation policy, the long-term usability, authenticity, discoverability and accessibility of the digital collection is at risk.
• Without defined collection and content management procedures, particularly where metadata is dissociated from content or is held in multiple locations, the long-term usability, authenticity and discoverability of the digital collection is at risk.
• Without maintaining digital collections on a suitable digital preservation infrastructure, the long-term usability and accessibility of the digital collection is at risk.
• Without a plan for sustainability, the long-term usability and accessibility of the digital collection is at risk.

The full report includes recommended approaches to analyse preservation including links to existing resources to assist institutions in this area.
Click here to read the full JISC press release
Click here to get the full report