Starting up a Digital Preservation (Pilot) Program

[Introduction]: This article argues that digital curation—the art and science of searching, analysing, selecting, and organising content—can be used to promote the development of digital information literacy skills among higher education students. Rather than relying on institutionally approved journal articles that have been pre-ordained as suitable for a given purpose, digital curation tools allow students to evaluate the quality of Web based-based content and then present it in an attractive form, all of which contributes to the cultivation of their digital literacy skills. We draw on a case study in which first- year information and communications technology (ICT) students used the digital curation platform Scoop.it to curate an annotated collection of resources pertaining to a particular topic. The notion of curation has undergone a significant transformation in the wake of an increasingly digital society. To 'curate,' traditionally referred to as 'taking care,' has morphed into a process of cataloguing, accessing, and representing artefacts. In the digital age, curation is a way of sifting, organising, and making sense of the plethora of information; it has become an important life skill without which one cannot fully participate in digital life. Moreover, the ready availability of information, made possible by the ubiquity of Internet technology, makes digital curation an essential skill for the twenty-first 21st century learner. In answer to this need, we are seeing the emergence of suites of digital tools, dubbed ‘curation’ tools, that meet the perceived need to locate, select, and synthesise Web content into open, user-organised collections. With information overload, a distinctive feature of the Internet, the ability to sift through the noise and dross to select high- quality, relevant content—selected on the basis of authority, currency, and fitness-for-purpose—is indeed a valuable skill. To examine this issue, we performed a case study in which a group of first- year Information and Communication Technology (ICT) students curated Web- based resources to inform an assessment task. We argue that curation platforms, such as Scoop.it, can be effective at cultivating the digital information literacy skills of higher education students.

Digital preservation, a term that may be familiar to readers, covers many of the factors that place data at risk, such as technological obsolescence, digital object fragility, and data maintenance. However, Ross Harvey argues that preservation is only a part of the puzzle and much more is needed to ensure that the digital data that are created today will survive through tomorrow, and this process is called digital curation. Digital curation is defined as developing a set of techniques that address “what comes before preservation and what comes after—that is, how the data are created and how they are used before they get to an archive or library and how they will be used, and by whom, in the future” (p. xvi). Essentially, digital curation is a holistic process that looks at the entire lifecycle of the data, from creation through maintenance and in preparation for how the data may be adjusted or migrated in the future. It is about making informed decisions from the beginning to ensure useful data later on. Digital Curation: A How-To-Do-It Manual is largely based on the Curation Lifecycle Model, developed by the Digital Curation Centre (DCC), a British organization that seeks to promote digital curation activities. The model describes the processes of digital curation and serves as the structure of the majority of the book, with separate chapters breaking out each step in detail. The introductory chapters frame the need for digital curation, describing cyber scholarship or data-driven scholarship and the need for cyber infrastructure to support the digital data. The author gives an overview of the DCC Curation Lifecycle Model and several other relevant models and includes illustrations to show the stages that data transition through before publication and after. Finally, the term “data” is defined so the reader better understands the content that needs curation and how the term has changed due to technological advancements in recent years. Each chapter ends with a summary and a list of references, which is helpful for quick perusal and for additional research on the topic. The subsequent chapters take a much closer look at each stage of the DCC Curation Lifecycle Model and describe the basic requirements of each sequential step. Curiously, the only graphical representation of the model is on the back cover of the book. Each step, and its place in the framework of the model, could have been reinforced by including a picture of the model in each chapter. However, the chapters are clearly written with sections outlined at the beginning and crucial information broken out in text boxes in the margins. Plenty of examples and/or references are provided, and uniform resource locators (URLs) are included in the text for those who are interested in learning more. The chapters break down each step of the model so as not to be overwhelming. Each chapter includes a single step, such as designing data or preserving data, so users may easily refer back to individual chapters to revisit particular areas of interest. A companion website is also available that includes checklists, templates for developing plans, and additional links. Digital Curation: A How-To-Do-It Manual is a comprehensive guide to designing, creating, describing, preserving, maintaining, and using or reusing data. This book should be useful for those looking for either a theoretical or practical approach to digital curation, as it embraces a model and standards, yet also provides instruction and many examples. Information professionals who are interested in beginning a digital project will find this book a helpful place to start.

For over twenty years public institutions and foundations committed in cultural heritage curation and preservation worked up methodologies, strategies and techniques for long-term digital preservation of digital resources. Thanks to a relevant number of initiatives and services carried on by international institutions and specialized agencies, public and private libraries reached a high level of awareness in this field which requires continuous adaptation due to the constant evolution of publishing industry and the rapid emergence of Open Science. After a quick review of digital preservation milestones, this article looks at some emerging trends and issues which characterize the constant transformation of digital preservation landscape. Dynamic generated digital contents and Open Science to fulfil findability, accessibility, interoperability and reuse (FAIR) of digital assets are engaging new challenges for existing digital preservation services. Digital curation and digital preservation are deeply merged and proceed in parallel to assure long-term usage of digital resources and data. How to select and deploy digital preservation platforms is another complex area where Cloud services can offer the opportunity to reduce the costs of technical infrastructures maintenance and management. Policy and decision making institutional levels need more awareness to draw up digital preservation strategies and to activate services to assure digital contents and data long-term access and reuse. Finally the paper suggests to promote “digital preservation by design” as a new base rule to be applied since the conception of every project and initiative in the cultural heritage, scientific and academic contexts.

Introdução: As transformações tecnológicas que afetam a geração, tratamento e armazenagem de objetos digitais têm desafiado os profissionais quanto à dependência de hardware e de software para criar, consumir e monitorar o conteúdo de tais objetos, e garantir acesso a seus conteúdos.O trabalho apresenta os problemas decorrentes da mudança de paradigma da informação fixada em papel para o ambiente digital; os avanços alcançados nas teorias e técnicas de curadoria e preservação de objetos digitais; e a descrição de uma ontologia para sistematizar os conceitos basilares da dependência tecnológica de objetos digitais. Método: o estudo tem base bibliográfico documental apresentando conceitos e técnicas desenvolvidos no campo da curadoria e preservação digital. Descreve uma ontologia elaborada com o software Protégé. Resultados: Apresenta os conceitos de documento, documento digital, objeto digital, preservação e curadoria digital e propõe uma ontologia de apoio ao processo de mapeamento da tecnologia necessária para decodificar os objetos digitais em sinais inteligíveis a humanos. Conclusão: Uma adequada conceituação de documento digital e objeto digital permite a elaboração de soluções que visam a preservação digital. A ontologia proposta poderá apoiar as organizações no mapeamento dos riscos e das perdas que podem ocorrer numa substituição ou desativação de componentes tecnológicos em ambientes computacionais.Em trabalhos futuros a ontologia deverá ser aprimorada e validada, buscando-se investigar seu alinhamento a requisitos e padrões já especificados para a preservação digital.

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to provide an overview of development and recent focus on digital curation and ties it to larger cyberinfrastructure initiatives.Design/methodology/approachProvides a useful viewpoint on the development and recent focus on digital curation.FindingsDigital curation is the active involvement of information professionals in the management, including the preservation, of digital data for future use. While there have been people doing different aspects of data curation and digital preservation for decades, recent events have brought a number of ideas, organizations, and individuals together to focus more intently on digital curation. Reports in the US by the National Science Foundation and the American Council of Learned Societies and in the UK by Dr Liz Lyon of UKOLN have pointed out the aspects of digital curation which need to be in place to ensure that digital objects can be maintained, preserved, and remain available for future use. These reports along with increased research focus at conferences and the emergence of new educational programs have led to the emergence of digital curation and made digital curators a new entry into the information professions. Increasingly, digital curation is becoming an umbrella concept that includes digital preservation, data curation, electronic records management, and digital asset management.Practical implicationsThis article discusses and defines digital curation and notes how this theme has permeated in recent reports, conferences, and educational offerings.Originality/valueThe article synthesizes current digital curation efforts and helps to define this new concept for information professionals.

The purpose of the article. Since digital information and information technologies are significantly changing the activities of libraries, the purpose of the article is to explore new professional qualifications and competencies for those working in the field of digital curation and corresponding challenges for library and information education. The paper defines and describes digital curation as emerging field of theory and practice in the LIS (that includes digital preservation, data curation, and management of information assets over their lifecycle), the trends which are influencing its development. It analyses the genesis of the term and traditional libraries’ roles relating to digital data and digital curation. The methodology. The task was accomplished using theoretical and general scientific research methods, such as analysis, synthesis, induction and deduction, and specification. Equally significant was the method of comparison, with the help of which it was possible to compare the practice of applying digital curation in the leading countries of the world, in particular the USA, and Ukraine. The work also applies the method of abstraction used during the analysis of general theoretical approaches to digital curation as a new reality and social need. The scientific novelty. The analysis and content of the concept of “digital curation”, the history of its emergence, the main competencies for library specialists who can work in the field of digital curation, as well as the corresponding tasks of library and information education, including lifelong learning education. The article also synthesizes previous research in the area of digital curation and helps LIS scholars to understand the intellectual and practical framework and the importance of digital curation in adding value to all types of data. The conclusions. The term “digital curation” is increasingly being used for the actions needed to add value to and maintain digital data over time for current and future generations of users. The generalization of existing research and practice that has developed in the world in the field of digital curation indicates the urgency of the need to create appropriate educational programs in library and information science in Ukraine (both within master’s programs and in continuous formal and informal education). The need for qualified specialists in data curation is urgent now and will only grow over time. The training of such specialists is entirely within the competence of the library and information field. The results of the analysis indicate that activities in the field of digital curation are characterized by a complex interaction of various skills and knowledge. They lack attention in modern library and information education, including the understanding of these challenges, which provides a new point of reference for appropriate changes. The significant effort needs to be put into developing a persistent information infrastructure for digital data and into developing the digital curation skills of librarians and information professionals.

Introduction. Digital curation tasks and objectives align with the task of archivists who must digitally plan to ensure safe long-term preservation. As information professionals, archivists must master competencies to become digital curators in the future. This study aims to determine what competencies an archivist must have in digital curation.
 Data Collection Methods. This study uses a systematic literature review (SLR) available in SCOPUS from 2018-2022, considering 11 selected articles. This study also applied bibliometric analysis using VOSViewer to identify the main characteristics, discuss, and provide research opportunities in this field.
 Data Analysis. In the first phase, SLR consists of three steps: planning, conducting, and reporting. In the second phase, the bibliometric using co-occurrence analysis to visualize the keyword network, density, and overlay visualization. 
 Results and Discussion. The results of the bibliometric analysis indicate that there are still several topics regarding digital curation that have not been widely studied, including those related to competence, cultural heritages, data management, career, and learning. Based on the systematic literature review there are 11 selected articles that are relevant to research topics and used for data analysis. 
 Conclusion. From 11 selected articles, it was found that archivist competencies in digital curation can be divided into four categories: cognitive, functional, social, and meta competence. The competencies found have implications for archivists as future digital curators by combining technical skills, including expertise in metadata standards and information organization, as well as personal skills. Based on the findings, it also can be an opportunity for further research to examine digital curation competency seen in the topics that are still rarely studied.

[Objective] To analyze the difference between Digital Curation and Digital Preservation. [Coverage] Based on the important historical documents and reports related to those two concepts,the authors also investigate the definitions of those two concepts released from major institutes in this research area,such as DCC,JISC and ARL. [Methods] Based on the analysis of history of those two concepts,the authors figure out the underlying causes of those two concepts. Based on the definitions of those two concepts from major research institutes and researchers,the authors analyze the difference between those two concepts. Based on the analysis of those two concepts from 8 aspects,the authors perform a multi-aspect comparison study of the two concepts to identify the difference more clearly. [Results] Although Digital Curation and Digital Preservation have similar meaning,they are quite different two concepts that have lots differences in many aspects. [Limitations] More detailed comparison on the tasks of the two concepts is needed to give more clearly explanation. [Conclusions] Digital Curation and Digital Preservation are two different concepts,but they are complementary. A more active way is needed for the library to carry out digital preservation.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to define and describe digital curation, an emerging field of theory and practice in the information professions that embraces digital preservation, data curation, and management of information assets over their lifecycle. It dissects key issues and debates in the area while arguing that digital curation is a vital strategy for dealing with the so-called data deluge.Design/methodology/approachThis paper explores digital curation’s potential to provide an improved return on investment in data work.FindingsA vital counterweight to the problem of data loss, digital curation also adds value to trusted data assets for current and future use. This paper unpacks data, the research enterprise, the roles and responsibilities of digital curation professionals, the data lifecycle, metadata, sharing and reuse, scholarly communication (cyberscholarship, publication and citation, and rights), infrastructure (archives, centers, libraries, and institutional repositories), and overarching issues (standards, governance and policy, planning and data management plans, risk management, evaluation, and metrics, sustainability, and outreach).Originality/valueA critical discussion that focusses on North America and the UK, this paper synthesizes previous findings and conclusions in the area of digital curation. It has value for digital curation professionals and researchers as well as students in library and information science who may deal with data in the future. This paper helps potential stakeholders understand the intellectual and practical framework and the importance of digital curation in adding value to scholarly (science, social science, and humanities) and other types of data. This paper suggests the need for further empirical research, not only in exploring the actual sharing and reuse practices of various sectors, disciplines, and domains, but also in considering the the data lifecycle, the potential role of archivists, funding and sustainability, outreach and awareness-raising, and metrics.

A Ciência da Informação, ao longo de sua existência, tem sido um campo multi e interdisciplinar, assim como tem sofrido alterações constantes, dado seu objeto de estudo: a informação. Uma vez que este elemento não é estático e está cada vez mais ligado à tecnologia da informação, tem-se visto um desafio surgir: como garantir a permanência das bibliotecas digitais? De que maneira se pode afiançar que os terabytes gerados com cada vez mais velocidade, e nos mais variados formatos, estarão disponíveis e plenamente passíveis de uso ao longo do tempo? Este é um desafio que os profissionais da Ciência da Informação estão sendo provocados a resolver, no processo das chamadas preservação e curadoria digital. Assim, esse artigo objetiva levantar as competências que o profissional da informação deverá ter para efetivar o processo de preservação e curadoria digital. O artigo discute o aparecimento das profissões (sob a ótica da Sociologia), a necessidade do trabalho para a realização do ser humano (Psicologia) e as proficiências dos que exercem o ofício da Ciência da Informação para garantir a preservação de informações digitais nas unidades de informações.

This review article synthesizes current research findings to propose effective strategies for measuring and enhancing user engagement in digital curation. This review article synthesizes current research findings to propose effective strategies for measuring and enhancing user engagement in digital curation. By establishing comprehensive frameworks and methodologies, researchers and practitioners can gain deeper insights into user behaviors, preferences, and interactions with curated content. This understanding will improve digital curation practices, ensuring curated resources meet user expectations and needs. The review identifies best practices, offers actionable recommendations, and highlights the critical need for robust user engagement strategies. Through systematic analysis of existing literature, it empowers the digital curation community to develop more effective strategies for managing and curating digital resources, ultimately enhancing user experience and engagement across diverse digital platforms.

1 - Defining digital curation in the digital humanities context

This paper advocates the necessity of developing a pragmatic alternative to the dominant custodial theorization of digital curation as an “umbrella concept for digital preservation, data curation, electronic records, and digital asset management”. Starting from a historical account and an examination of prevalent definitions, it points to the current dependence of digital curation on a prescriptive approach rooted in its cognate field of digital preservation, aiming to serve the needs of professional stewardship. It demonstrates the disconnect of this theorization with the rich historical traditions of museum curatorship where the notion of curation originated, its inability to act as a framework for understanding the diversity and pervasiveness of contemporary digital curation practices “in the wild” (such as content curation, personal archiving, and pro-am digitization), and its dependence on a “wild frontier” ideology dissonant with contemporary critical cultural heritage scholarship. The alternative, pragmatic approach views digital curation as a “contact zone” practice, routinely performed by a broad range of actors including researchers, artists, users, and communities, on dynamically evolving objects, domain knowledge representations, and interactions, beyond the curation life cycle prescribed for custodial environments. On this basis, this study calls for a formal reconceptualization of digital curation, adequate knowledge representation of its objects, evidence-based research on curation practices, and establishment of curation-enabled digital infrastructures suitable for curation in the continuum. Reaching beyond a custodial view, this approach aims to establish digital curation as a field of intellectual inquiry relevant to emerging pervasive curation practices in the digital environment.

The creation, management and use of digital materials are of increasing importance for a wide range of activities. Much of the knowledge base and intellectual assets of institutions and individuals are now in digital form. The term digital curation is increasingly being used for the actions needed to add value to and maintain these digital assets over time for current and future generations of users. The paper explores this emerging field of digital curation as an area of inter-disciplinary research and practice, and the trends which are influencing its development. It analyses the genesis of the term and how traditional roles relating to digital assets are in transition. Finally it explores some of the drivers for curation ranging from trends such as exponential growth in digital information, to "life-caching", digital preservation, the Grid and new opportunities for publishing, sharing, and re-using data. It concludes that significant effort needs to be put into developing a persistent information infrastructure for digital materials and into developing the digital curation skills of researchers and information professionals. Without this, current investment in digitisation and digital content will only secure short-term rather than lasting benefits.

Digital Curation involves maintaining, preserving and adding value to digital assets throughout its lifecycle. As a long term activity, estimating priorities and costs is therefore a key challenge. When considering digital preservation as part of Digital Curation concerns, we realized that the body of knowledge of Risk Management can be helpful to estimate part of the costs that are related to the controls the organization has to put in place to mitigate the perceived preservation risks. Therefore, we propose that risk management for digital repositories can be a new expertize that archivists can consider addressing in order to reinforce their relevance in Digital Curation.