Language(s) of presentations:
Abstract:
This presentation provides a contextual outline of the need for an evidence-based evaluation of digital archival repositories. It offers an overview of the assessments conducted using the freely available Digital Repository Audit Method Based on Risk Assessment (DRAMBORA), a methodology for undertaking repository self assessment, developed jointly by the Digital Curation Centre (DCC) and DigitalPreservationEurope (DPE). To date, 18 evaluative pilot assessments have been conducted in an internationally diverse selection of archives, as well as numerous digital libraries and data centres (including institutions and services such as the National Archives of both the Netherlands and Scotland, Gallica of the National Library of France, CERN Document Server and Netarkivet). Other organizations, such as the British Library and the US Geological Survey, have been using sections of DRAMBORA within their own risk assessment procedures. The presentation then moves on to demonstrate how institutions can make use of the DRAMBORA toolkit to design, develop, evaluate, and refine new or existing trusted digital archival systems and workflows. This involves a walk-through of DRAMBORA 2.0, recently released as an interactive online tool, offering an intuitive form based interface, peer-comparison features, configurable reporting mechanisms and maturity tracking. Participants are encouraged to draw upon and share their own experiences during this discussion.
Target audience:
The intended audience for this presentation is anyone involved in funding, supporting, developing, implementing, and/or managing digital archival repositories.
Overall purpose and significance of session:
This presentation enables attendees to: 1) comprehend the concepts of trust and recognize the need for evidence-based evaluation for building trust in digital archival repositories; 2) understand how the DRAMBORA toolkit can be used to help design and develop systems and workflows that can help build trusted digital archival repositories.
Content description:
Several international efforts have sought to identify core characteristics that must be demonstrable by successful digital archives, expressed in the form of check-list documents, intended to support the processes of digital archive accreditation and certification. However, viewed in isolation, the available guidelines lack practical applicability; confusion over evidential requirements and difficulties associated with the diversity that exists among archives (in terms of mandate, available resources, supported content and legal context) are particularly problematic. A gap exists between the available criteria and the ways and extent to which conformance can be demonstrated. The Digital Repository Audit Method Based on Risk Assessment (DRAMBORA) is a methodology for undertaking repository self assessment, developed jointly by the Digital Curation Centre (DCC) and DigitalPreservationEurope (DPE). It utilises a bottom-up approach that takes risk and risk management as its principle means for determining digital archives’ success and for charting their improvement.
I wish to extend a warm invitation to all archivists and information professionals to the 16th ICA Congress in Kuala Lumpur from 21- 27 July 2008.