Sample interview questions: How do you handle the challenges of preserving and providing access to digital materials that require specialized software or programming skills?
Sample answer:
Preservation and Access of Digital Materials with Specialized Software Requirements
To address the challenges of preserving and providing access to digital materials requiring specialized software or programming skills, digital archivists employ a multifaceted approach:
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Emulation Software: Emulators provide a virtual environment that mimics the original hardware and software on which digital materials were created. This allows users to access and interact with materials without requiring the original software.
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Virtual Machines: Virtual machines enable the creation of isolated computing environments that contain the necessary software and operating systems to run specific digital materials. This approach ensures compatibility and prevents conflicts with other applications.
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Open Formats and Standards: Migrating digital materials to open and standardized formats ensures their long-term preservation and accessibility. By converting specialized formats to common file types, archivists reduce the need for proprietary software.
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Metadata and Documentation: Extensive metadata and documentation capture information about the digital materials, including their requirements and dependencies. This metadata enables researchers to id… Read full answer
Source: https://hireabo.com/job/18_0_19/Digital%20Archivist