What steps would you take to ensure the long-term preservation of digital materials?

Sample interview questions: What steps would you take to ensure the long-term preservation of digital materials?

Sample answer:

1. File Format Assessment:

2. Evaluate the suitability of existing digital formats for long-term preservation.

3. Ensure files are in non-proprietary, open formats or widely supported formats with available migration paths.

4. Consider file size, compression, dependencies, and metadata.

5. Data Migration:

6. Establish a regular data migration schedule to transfer digital materials to newer, more sustainable formats.

7. Implement automated or semi-automated migration processes to reduce manual intervention and errors.

8. Maintain detailed documentation of migration activities, including source and target formats, tools used, and any issues encountered.

9. Metadata Management:

10. Create and maintain comprehensive metadata for digital materials, including technical, descriptive, and administrative metadata.

11. Utilize standardized metadata schemas and controlled vocabularies to ensure consistency and interoperability.

12. Regularly review and update metadata to reflect changes in content or context.

13. Storage and Redundancy:

14. Implement a robust storage infrastructure with multiple copies of digital materials stored in different physical locations.

15. Utilize a combination of primary storage (e.g., disk arrays) and secondary storage (e.g., tape libraries) for long-term preservation.

16. Configure storage systems with appropriate redundancy mechanisms (e.g., RAID, replication) to protect against data loss.

17. Environmental Control:

18. Maintain a controlled environment with stable temperature, humidity, and air quality to minimize the risk of physical damage to digital storage media.

19. Monitor environmental conditions and implement appropriate measures to prevent fluct… Read full answer

    Source: https://hireabo.com/job/18_0_19/Digital%20Archivist