Preservation, Digital Technology & Culture (PDT&C)

Published by De Gruyter Saur

Volume 45 Issue 3

Issue of Preservation, Digital Technology & Culture (PDT&C)

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Contents
Journal Overview

Publicly Available October 3, 2016

From the Editor-in-Chief

October 3, 2016

Articles

October 3, 2016

Abstract

For 20 years the U. S. Newspaper and Brittle Books Programs focused national resources on a singular approach to preserving acidic paper in research libraries—converting printed “information” to microfilm. In many cases, the original historical material was discarded in the process. This method failed to address the root problem that could have been solved more effectively and more economically through preventive conservation. Such conservation was ignored because an ulterior motive to the brittle books “crisis” was to establish a national digital library. A serious consequence arising from this subterfuge is that today mid-sized research libraries are not committed to—and perhaps fail to comprehend the importance of—preserving their general collections. Collectively these diverse, paper-based collections represent a huge swath of the nation’s historical record. Falsely believing digital media will make paper obsolete, and motivated by a need to create space in libraries, today’s vigorous weeding for non-rare, paper-based general collections threatens to destroy evidence that will be required for research and future digitization projects. These materials will be needed as backups to accurately regenerate screen copies; as master copies to augment, enhance, or correct faulty screen copies; and, as authentication to verify original production techniques and determine provenance. Without careful coordination and item-level verification, today’s isolated weeding practices could eviscerate American general collections with devastating results for future scholarship, repeating the mistakes of the U. S. Newspaper and Brittle Books Programs.

October 3, 2016

Social Metadata and Public-Contributed Contents in Memory Institutions: “Crowd Voice” Versus “Authenticated Heritage”?

Chern Li Liew

Page range: 122-133

Abstract

Social technologies have led to increasing participatory activities and institutions are interested in the potential of using these for outreach and engagement. Through offering new spaces and tools that allow users to consume and also to contribute content, institutions are expanding their traditional services which could redefine their role and relevance in the digital cultural heritage landscape. This study investigates the decision-making and practices underpinning current handling of social metadata and public-contributed contents (PCC). The focus is on examining the motivations for soliciting contributions, if and how these are moderated and managed, if they are integrated into the institutional data and knowledge base, and the extent to which public stakeholders moderate. The study also involves an investigation of whether, and how, memory institutions consider diversity and inclusiveness in soliciting participation and contributions, and the values placed on PCC, as compared to institutional resources. The aim of this study is to shed light on these by surveying libraries, archives, museums, and other institutions. How institutions deal with the social metadata and PCC they gather, and what they do with the contributions, could be a key determining factor of the success of their participatory practice as part of their larger effort to capture and preserve collective memories. This survey shows that the profession still has a way to go towards these goals. There is little evidence that demonstrates integration of a participatory culture and activities into the strategic directions and documentary practices of institutions.

October 3, 2016

Digital Preservation Practices in University Libraries: A Survey of Institutional Repositories in Nigeria

Kingdom H. Kari, Ebikabowei E. Baro

Page range: 134-144

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to investigate the digital preservation practices in institutional repositories (IRs) in Nigeria. Data from the IRs developed in university libraries in Nigeria was collected in three phases: initial phone calls, website investigation, and questionnaire. After the phone calls to librarians and website investigation of libraries of the 141 approved universities in Nigeria, the researchers found only 15 university libraries to have developed institutional repositories in Nigeria. Out of these numbers, 12 respondents, representing their university libraries were reached to respond to the questionnaire. Results from the study showed that the majority of IRs in Nigeria used DSpace software to manage their digital contents and that half of the IRs engage in information migration. The study also revealed that the majority of the responding institutions provide long-term digital preservation. Regrettably, most of the IRs do not have a digital preservation policy to guide the implementation of digital preservation for IR contents. Finally, the majority of the respondents indicated that they do not have long-term funding and lack the necessary technical staff with required skills to handle and manage the IR. The findings will inform information professionals, particularly librarians in developing countries who are planning to create institutional repositories and to provide long-term digital preservation of electronic resources in their institutions.

Conversations

October 3, 2016

The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA), Part 2: A Conversation with Dan Cohen

Page range: 145-146

Currents and Comments

October 3, 2016

Currents and Comments

Page range: 147-153

Book Review

October 3, 2016

Our Memories, Ourselves

Stephen Chapman

Page range: 154-155

About this journal

Objective
Preservation, Digital Technology & Culture (PDT&C) is an international refereed journal of high scholarly standing which focuses on preserving digital content from a wide variety of perspectives, including technological, social, economic, political, and user. Its scope is global, covering projects and practices from key international players in the field.

The intended audiences for PDT&C are librarians, archivists, museum and other cultural heritage professionals, and educators. The goal of the journal is to provide a timely forum for refereed articles, news, and field notes from around the world.

In addition to the featured refereed articles, there is a section called Currents which contains news and commentary. Further contributions include invited articles, editorials, reviews, and position papers. High quality color illustrations will add to the informative value of the content.

All articles undergo a double-blind peer review process with at least two peer reviewers (at least one external).

Topics

Digital content preservation
Culture
Information science
Library science
Preservation and restoration
Communication science

Article formats
articles, editorials, reviews, commentaries, and position papers

Call for papers

Information on Submission Process

Volume 45 Issue 3

Issue of Preservation, Digital Technology & Culture (PDT&C)

Frontmatter

Introduction

Surely, We’ll Need Backups

Abstract

Social Metadata and Public-Contributed Contents in Memory Institutions: “Crowd Voice” Versus “Authenticated Heritage”?

Abstract

Digital Preservation Practices in University Libraries: A Survey of Institutional Repositories in Nigeria

Abstract

The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA), Part 2: A Conversation with Dan Cohen

Currents and Comments

Our Memories, Ourselves