Preservation metadata

Preservation metadata is item level information that describes the context and structure of a digital object. It provides background details pertaining to a digital object's provenance, authenticity, and environment. Preservation metadata, is a specific type of metadata that works to maintain a digital object's viability while ensuring continued access by providing contextual information, usage details, and rights.^[1] ^[2]

As an increasing portion of the world’s information output shifts from analog to digital form, preservation metadata is an essential component of most digital preservation strategies, including digital curation, data management, digital collections management and the preservation of digital information over the long-term. It is an integral part of the data lifecycle^[3] and helps to document a digital object’s authenticity while maintaining usability across formats.^[3]

Definition of Preservation Metadata

Metadata surrounds and describes physical, digitized, and born-digital information objects. Preservation metadata is external metadata related to a digital object created after a resource has been separated from its original creator,^[2] with value-added.^[1] The item-level data further stores technical details on the format, structure and uses of a digital resource, along with the history of all actions performed on the resource. These technical details include changes and decisions regarding digitization, migration to other formats, authenticity information such as technical features or custody history, and the rights and responsibilities information.^[4] In addition, preservation metadata may include information on the physical condition of a resource.

Preservation metadata is dynamic, accessibility focused, and should provide the following information: details about files and instructions for use, documentation of all updates or actions that have been performed on an object, object provenance and details pertaining to current and future custody; details of the individual(s) who are responsible for the preservation of the object and changes made to it.^[5]

Components of Metadata

Provenance: Who has had custody/ownership of the digital object?
Authenticity: Is the digital object what it purports to be?
Preservation activity: What has been done to preserve the digital object?
Technical environment: What is needed to render, interact with and use the digital object?
Rights management: What intellectual property rights must be observed?^[6]

Types of Metadata Creation

Automatic (internal)
Manual (often created by a specialist)
Created during digitization
User-contributed^[2]

Uses of Preservation Metadata

Digital materials require constant maintenance and migration to new formats to accommodate evolving technologies and varied user needs. In order to survive into the future, digital objects need preservation metadata that exists independently from the systems which were used to create them. Without preservation metadata, digital material will be lost. “While a print book with a broken spine can be easily re-bound, a digital object that has become corrupted or obsolete is often impossible (or prohibitively expensive) to repair”.^[7] Preservation metadata provides the vital information which will make “digital objects self-documenting across time.”^[6] Data maintenance is considered a key piece of collections maintenance^[8] by ensuring the availability of a resource over time, a concept detailed in the Reference Model for an Open Archival Information System (OAIS). OAIS is a broad conceptual model which many organizations have followed in developing new preservation metadata element sets^[9] and Archival Information Packages (AIP).^[9] Early projects in preservation metadata in the library community include CEDARS, NEDLIB, The National Library of Australia and the OCLC/RLG Working Group on Preservation Metadata.^[4] The ongoing work of maintaining, supporting, and coordinating future revisions to the PREMIS Data Dictionary is undertaken by the PREMIS Editorial Committee, hosted by the Library of Congress.^[6] Preservation metadata provides continuity and contributes to the validity and authenticity of a resource by providing evidence of changes, adjustments and migrations.^[10]

The importance of preservation metadata is further indicated by its required inclusion in many Data Management Plans (DMPs) which are often key pieces of applications for grants and government funding.^[3]

Considered by the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) to be a subtype of administrative metadata, preservation metadata is used to promote:

Interoperability
Digital object management
Preservation (often in conjunction with technical metadata)^[11]

Complications of Preservation Metadata

Concern over the poor management of digital objects notes the possibility of a "digital dark age".^[3] Many institutions, including the Digital Curation Center (DCC) and the National Digital Stewardship Alliance (NDSA) are working to create access to digital objects while ensuring their continued viability. In the NDSA’s Version 1 of the Levels of Digital Preservation, preservation metadata is grouped under Level Four, or "Repair your metadata", part of the macro preservation plan intended to make objects available over the long term.^[12]

The differing uses of digital resources across space, time and institutions requires that one object or set of information be accessible in a variety of formats,^[13] with the creation of new preservation metadata in each iteration.^[1] Anne Gilliland notes that these variations create the need for wider data standards that can be used within and across industries that will then result in further use and interoperability.^[1] The value of interoperability is further validated by the expense, both temporal and financial, of metadata creation.^[1]

The creation of preservation metadata by multiple users or institutions can complicate issues of ownership, access and responsibility.^[14] Depending on an institution’s mission, it may be difficult or outside the scope of responsibility to perform preservation while providing access. Further research into cross-institutional collaboration may provide greater insight into where data should be stored, and who should be managing it.^[14] Scholar Maggie Fieldhouse notes that the creation of metadata is shifting from collections managers to suppliers and publishers.^[15] Jerome McDonough identifies the benefits of multiple partners collaborating to improve metadata records around an object with preservation metadata as a key in cross-institutional communication.^[16] Sheila Corrall notes that the creation and management of preservation metadata represents the intersection between libraries, IT management and archival practice.^[8]

Developments in Preservation Metadata

Preservation metadata is a new and developing field. The OAIS Reference Model is a broad conceptual model which many organizations have followed in developing new preservation metadata element sets.^[9] Early projects in preservation metadata in the library community include CEDARS, NEDLIB, The National Library of Australia and the OCLC/RLG Working Group on Preservation Metadata.^[4] The ongoing work of maintaining, supporting, and coordinating future revisions to the PREMIS Data Dictionary is undertaken by the PREMIS Editorial Committee, hosted by the Library of Congress.^[6]

ARCHANGEL

Recent developments in blockchain technology and the need for verifiable sources have led to the pilot program ARCHANGEL to use blockchain in the archival space.^[17]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Gilliland, A.J. (2016). Setting the Stage: An Introduction to Metadata, Third Edition. Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute.
^ ^a ^b ^c Mitchell, E (2015). Metadata Standards and Web Services in Libraries, Archives and Museums: An Active Learning Resource. Santa Barbara: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN 978-1610694490.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Poole, A.H. (2016). "The conceptual landscape of digital curation". Journal of Documentation. 72 (5): 961–986. doi:10.1108/JD-10-2015-0123.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Preservation Metadata". National Library of Australia. 2011-08-24. Archived from the original on 2011-08-24. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
^ Woodyard, D. (April 2002). "Metadata and preservation". Information Services & Use. 22 (2–3): 121–125. doi:10.3233/ISU-2002-222-311.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "PREMIS: Preservation Metadata Maintenance Activity". Library of Congress. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
^ Lavoie, B.; Dempsey, L. (2004). "Thirteen Ways of Looking at...Digital Preservation". D-Lib Magazine. 10 (7/8). doi:10.1045/july2004-lavoie.
^ ^a ^b Corrall, S. (2012). Fieldhouse, M.; Marshall, A. (eds.). Collection Development in the Digital Age. Facet Publishing. pp. 3–25. ISBN 978-1856047463.
^ ^a ^b ^c Lee, C. (2009). "Open Archival System (OAIS) Reference Model". In Bates, M.J.; Maack, M.N. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences, Third Edition. CRC Press. pp. 4020–4030. ISBN 9780203757635.
^ Cook, T. (Spring 1997). "What is Past is Prologue: A History of Archival Ideas Since 1898, and the Future Paradigm Shift". Archivaria. 43: 17–63.
^ "Understanding Metadata: What is Metadata, and What is it For?: A Primer". NISO. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
^ "Levels of Digital Preservation". NDSA. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
^ Borgman, C.L. (2015). Big Data, Little Data, No Data. London: MIT Press. ISBN 9780262529914.
^ ^a ^b Noonan, D.; Chute, T. (2014). "Data Curation and the University Archives". The American Archivist. 77 (1): 201–240. doi:10.17723/aarc.77.1.m49r46526847g587. hdl:1811/62042.
^ Fieldhouse, M. (2012). "The Process of Collection Management". In Fieldhouse, M.; Marshall, A. (eds.). Collection Development in the Digital Age. Facet Publishing. pp. 27–43. ISBN 978-1856047463.
^ McDonough, J.P. (2010). "Packaging Video Games for Long-Term Preservation". Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology. 62 (1): 171–184. doi:10.1002/asi.21412.
^ Bell, Mark; Green, Alex; Sheridan, John; Collomosse, John; Cooper, Daniel; Bui, Tu; Thereaux, Olivier; Higgins, Jez (2019-06-26). "Underscoring archival authenticity with blockchain technology". Insights: The UKSG Journal. 32: 21. doi:10.1629/uksg.470. ISSN 2048-7754. S2CID 198357364.

External links

[:1-1] Gilliland, A.J. (2016). Setting the Stage: An Introduction to Metadata, Third Edition. Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute.

[:0-2] Mitchell, E (2015). Metadata Standards and Web Services in Libraries, Archives and Museums: An Active Learning Resource. Santa Barbara: Libraries Unlimited. ISBN 978-1610694490.

[:2-3] Poole, A.H. (2016). "The conceptual landscape of digital curation". Journal of Documentation. 72 (5): 961–986. doi:10.1108/JD-10-2015-0123.

[:3-4] "Preservation Metadata". National Library of Australia. 2011-08-24. Archived from the original on 2011-08-24. Retrieved May 2, 2019.

[5] Woodyard, D. (April 2002). "Metadata and preservation". Information Services & Use. 22 (2–3): 121–125. doi:10.3233/ISU-2002-222-311.

[:4-6] "PREMIS: Preservation Metadata Maintenance Activity". Library of Congress. Retrieved May 2, 2019.

[7] Lavoie, B.; Dempsey, L. (2004). "Thirteen Ways of Looking at...Digital Preservation". D-Lib Magazine. 10 (7/8). doi:10.1045/july2004-lavoie.

[:5-8] Corrall, S. (2012). Fieldhouse, M.; Marshall, A. (eds.). Collection Development in the Digital Age. Facet Publishing. pp. 3–25. ISBN 978-1856047463.

[:6-9] Lee, C. (2009). "Open Archival System (OAIS) Reference Model". In Bates, M.J.; Maack, M.N. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences, Third Edition. CRC Press. pp. 4020–4030. ISBN 9780203757635.

[10] Cook, T. (Spring 1997). "What is Past is Prologue: A History of Archival Ideas Since 1898, and the Future Paradigm Shift". Archivaria. 43: 17–63.

[11] "Understanding Metadata: What is Metadata, and What is it For?: A Primer". NISO. Retrieved May 2, 2019.

[12] "Levels of Digital Preservation". NDSA. Retrieved May 2, 2019.

[13] Borgman, C.L. (2015). Big Data, Little Data, No Data. London: MIT Press. ISBN 9780262529914.

[:7-14] Noonan, D.; Chute, T. (2014). "Data Curation and the University Archives". The American Archivist. 77 (1): 201–240. doi:10.17723/aarc.77.1.m49r46526847g587. hdl:1811/62042.

[15] Fieldhouse, M. (2012). "The Process of Collection Management". In Fieldhouse, M.; Marshall, A. (eds.). Collection Development in the Digital Age. Facet Publishing. pp. 27–43. ISBN 978-1856047463.

[16] McDonough, J.P. (2010). "Packaging Video Games for Long-Term Preservation". Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology. 62 (1): 171–184. doi:10.1002/asi.21412.

[17] Bell, Mark; Green, Alex; Sheridan, John; Collomosse, John; Cooper, Daniel; Bui, Tu; Thereaux, Olivier; Higgins, Jez (2019-06-26). "Underscoring archival authenticity with blockchain technology". Insights: The UKSG Journal. 32: 21. doi:10.1629/uksg.470. ISSN 2048-7754. S2CID 198357364.

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v t e Cultural heritage and historic preservation
Topics and issues	Agents of deterioration Archival processing Archaeological science Archaeology Archive Bioarchaeology Book Calendar (archives) Conservation and restoration of cultural property Conservation and restoration of immovable cultural property Conservation and restoration of movable cultural property Conservation science (cultural property) Collecting Collection (museum) Collection catalog Collections maintenance Collections management Collections management system Cultural heritage Cultural heritage management Cultural property Cultural property documentation Cultural property exhibition Cultural property imaging Cultural property storage Cultural resource management Database preservation Deaccessioning Digital library Digital photograph restoration Digital preservation Disaster preparedness (cultural property) Film preservation Finding aid Fonds Found in collection Heritage asset Heritage science Inherent vice Intangible cultural heritage Integrated pest management (cultural property) Inventory (library and archive) Inventory (museums) Media preservation Midden Mold control and prevention (library and archive) Museum Optical media preservation Preservation (library and archive) Preservation metadata Preservation survey Provenance Repatriation Ruins Sustainable preservation Treasure Web archiving
Roles and expertise	Archivist Art dealer Art handler Auctioneer Collection manager Conservator-restorer Conservation scientist Conservation technician Curator Exhibition designer Mount maker Objects conservator Paintings conservator Photograph conservator Preservationist Registrar (cultural property) Textile conservator
Methods and techniques	Aging (artwork) Anastylosis Arrested decay Cradling (paintings) Cultural property radiography Detachment of wall paintings Desmet method Display case Digital repository audit method based on risk assessment Historic paint analysis Inpainting Kintsugi Leafcasting Lining of paintings Mass deacidification Overpainting Paleo-inspiration Paper splitting Reconstruction (architecture) Rissverklebung Textile stabilization Transfer of panel paintings UVC-based preservation VisualAudio
Conservation and restoration of immovable cultural property by item type	Archaeological sites Frescos Heritage railways Historic gardens Outdoor artworks Outdoor bronze objects Outdoor murals
Conservation and restoration of movable cultural property by item type	Aircraft Ancient Greek pottery Bone, horn, and antler objects Books, manuscripts, documents and ephemera Ceramic objects Clocks Copper-based objects Feathers Film Flags and banners Fur objects Glass objects Herbaria Human remains Illuminated manuscripts Insect specimens Iron and steel objects Ivory objects Judaica Lacquerware Leather objects Lighthouses Metals Musical instruments Neon objects New media art Paintings Painting frames Panel paintings Papyrus Parchment Performance art Photographs Photographic plates Plastic objects Rail vehicles Road vehicles Shipwreck artifacts Silver objects South Asian household shrines Stained glass Taxidermy Textiles Tibetan thangkas Time-based media art Totem poles Vinyl discs Woodblock prints Wooden artifacts Wooden furniture
Intangible cultural heritage preservation	Ancient music Applied folklore Dance notation Early music Endangered language Ethnochoreology Ethnomusicology Ethnopoetics Family folklore Folklore Folk art Folk dance Folk etymology Folk instrument Folk music Folk process Folk play Foodways Folklore studies Heritage language Heritage language learning Indigenous intellectual property Indigenous culture Indigenous language Language death Language preservation Language revitalization Living history Oral history preservation Preservation of meaning Prehistoric music Tradition preservation Traditional knowledge Traditional medicine
Notable projects	Conservation issues of Pompeii and Herculaneum Conservation-restoration of Ecce Homo by Elías García Martínez Conservation-restoration of The Gross Clinic by Thomas Eakins Conservation-restoration of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper Pompeian frescoes Conservation-restoration of the Shroud of Turin Conservation-restoration of the Sistine Chapel frescoes Conservation-restoration of the Statue of Liberty Conservation-restoration of the H.L. Hunley Conservation response to flood of Arno, Florence Modern and Contemporary Art Research Initiative Preservation Metadata: Implementation Strategies World Heritage Site