Personal Digital Archiving Research Articles

Mengeksplorasi Praktik Personal Digital Archiving (PDA) dalam Fenomena New Analog Photography di Instagram: Membangun Personal Branding, Pencarian Autentisitas dan Detoksifikasi Digital

This article discusses the phenomenon of the rise of analog photography called new analogphotography on Instagram. Apart from discussing the phenomenon of new analog photography, this article also discusses the practice of personal digital archiving (PDA), which is applied to this phenomenon. Social media is a platform for storing personal digital archives, which has been done by all humans in the internet era and electronic devices have become an integral part of their lives. The method used in writing articles uses a qualitative case study approach. The aim of this article is to find the causes of the new analog photography phenomenon, namely the millennial generation and Gen Z who are very active on social media and have personal branding awareness. The exploration carried out by the millennial generation and Gen Z who have an interest in photography to search for the authenticity of digital presence images and rituals using analog cameras can be categorized as digital detoxification. The limitation of this article is that the number of respondents obtained in quantity is not yet representative. It is hoped that future research will be able to gather more respondents with more varied demographics to be able to map the distribution of this phenomenon. This article explains that photography, which is a form of visual archive, is related to the study of social, cultural and technological topics. So that it provides a new perspective for developing the field of archives, especially special-form archives.

Peran Personal Digital Archiving Dalam Preservasi Arsip Orkes Keroncong Surya Mataram Yogyakarta

The current state of the physical release of the Orkes Keroncong Surya Mataram tape, with limited quantity and inadequate archival practices, require an urgent digitization and management initiative. The objective of this activity is to ensure that the succeeding generations inherit a comprehensive understanding of keroncong music from the Orkes Keroncong Surya Mataram. This research seeks to comprehend the process of digitizing and managing the audio digital archive of the Orkes Keroncong Surya Mataram, employing the principles of personal digital archiving for preservation. A qualitative research with utilizing a case study approach was employed to identify the process of digitizing physical assets such as tape tapes, Orkes Keroncong Surya Mataram tapes, and managing digital archives as preservation efforts. This involved selecting a social situation, employing data collection techniques, and undertaking data analysis processes. The findings of this study reveal that there are 44 songs across four tape cassettes in optimal condition for digitization. The digitization process is executed through three stages: preparation, implementation, and archiving. Once digitized, the 44 songs are managed based on the principles of personal digital archiving. In conclusion, personal digital archiving plays a crucial role in preserving and managing information pertaining to the intra-aesthetic value of keroncong music, serving as a valuable source of knowledge and future research data. Based on the research findings, digital archivists personally extend recommendations to individuals, groups, and the general public, emphasizing the importance of proper and wise archival care. The use of technology and the internet facilitates easier implementation and access to the results of personal digital archiving efforts.

Perceived values to personal digital archives and their relationship to archiving behaviours: An exploratory research based on grounded theory

Personal digital archiving (PDA) is a type of personal information behaviour related to personal memory and identity construction. The aim of this study is to discover and define individual’s perceived values in relation to personal digital archives, and to explore their relationship between PDA behaviours. Based on the grounded theory, drawing on in-depth interviews with 14 Chinese college students, both the perceived values in relation to personal digital archives and the PDA behaviours were coded through open, axial, and selective coding processes. This study found the perceived values in relation to personal digital archives mainly include subject value, object value, intermediary value, value to other subjects and social value, PDA behaviours mainly include accumulation behaviour, use behaviour, appraisal behaviour and disposal behaviour. Moreover, the value cognition of personal digital archives is the intermediary link between perceived values and PDA behaviours and is the core connecting the two. Value cognition can be divided into judgement on whether personal digital archives are valuable, subdivision of value types of personal digital archives, value evaluation of personal digital archives, and cognition of enhancing or weakening the value of personal digital archives. The study comprehensively analysed the perceived values, value cognition that drive PDA behaviours, built the relationship between perceived values, value cognition and PDA behaviours, and answered the question of why individuals want to archive from cognitive and behavioural perspectives. The findings of the study can help librarians to conduct more targetted PDA education and improve the public’s awareness and literacy in PDA.

Personal Digital Archiving and Catastrophic Data Loss: Is it Getting Better?

Abstract Given the changing landscape of personal computing, this study asks: (1) has the occurrence of personal catastrophic data loss improved with the maturity of digital technology and services, and (2) have the reasons for data loss changed with the maturing of digital technology? These questions are addressed through a qualitative content analysis of N = 136 participant responses from 2013 to 2022 to a question about their personal experience of data loss. The study finds that there is no decline over time in participant’s experience of data loss, and the reasons for data loss continue to be varied. Losing digital information endures as an unpleasant experience for today’s computing users, and personal digital archiving ought to be introduced to young people early on to avoid learning about data loss “the hard way.”

Mobile self-efficacy as predictor of mobile-based personal digital archiving practices: a study of Pakistani undergraduates

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of mobile self-efficacy on personal digital archiving (PDA) practices of undergraduate students. Design/methodology/approach This study used a quantitative research design for achieving the objectives. The population consisted of undergraduate students from public sector universities (the top five) of Punjab, Pakistan, listed in the Higher Education Commission recognized general universities. The data were analysed by using SmartPLS, mobile self-efficacy was the independent variable that consisted of two constructs (basic mobile phone operations and using the internet and emails). PDA practices was the dependent variable (information backup, clearing and deleting). Findings The analysis consisted of two major parts: first the assessment of measurement model and second the structural equation modelling analysis. A significant impact of mobile self-efficacy (basic mobile phone operations, using internet and email) was found on all the sub-constructs (information backup, information clearing and information deleting) of PDA practices. However, using internet and email has no significant impact on the information clearing practices of undergraduate students of Pakistani universities. Originality/value This study is a valuable addition to the extant literature because no comprehensive research has been carried out on the impact of mobile self-efficacy and PDA through mobile phones. It also contributes theoretically in the form of the development of a validated instrument on mobile-based PDA. Additionally, it possesses practical value for information literacy instruction programs.

Using Oral History to Study the Personal Digital Archiving Practices of Modern Soldiers

ABSTRACT Drawing on literature from personal information management studies and on the topic of documentation of American military experiences, this article aims to help the archival profession understand the personal digital archiving practices of modern soldiers. During the summer of 2019, the author conducted oral history interviews with US Army soldiers at Fort Hood to address the questions of what personal records soldiers keep of their military experience, what they do—if anything—to preserve them, and how they value them. This study found that both military and socio-technological factors contribute to a lack of digital recordkeeping among modern soldiers, that soldiers' reliance on social media as ad hoc digital preservation tools leads to poor digital preservation practices, and that a majority of soldiers do not see their digital records as worthy of future historical study. The article concludes with a discussion of actions that can address these issues.

Personal information management burden: A framework for describing nonwork personal information management in the context of inequality

AbstractThis research reports on qualitative interviews with 31 participants who are Irish parents, identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer (LGBQ), and who expressed difficulty in the process of obtaining birth certificates for their children. Our aim was to use personal information management (PIM) and personal digital archiving (PDA) as a lens to explore the invisible work that the Irish government requires of a sexual minority parent group to obtain “equal” treatment in the birth registration and birth certificate process. Our findings suggest overlap with existing information behavior research (IB) that explore invisible information work, IB as a burden, information marginalization, information vulnerability, and information overload, and the everyday in IB. We propose a new framework: personal information burden (PIM‐B) which is characterized by additional PIM activities, negative affect, lack of identity self extension to the personal information, and additional information seeking. We propose that a PIM‐B may be used as an indicator of inequality in future research.

Modeling the process of personal digital archiving through ubiquitous and desktop devices: A systematic review

The purpose of this study is to explore Personal Digital Archiving, and its practices, reasons, and challenges in desktop and in ubiquitous environment such as desktop computers, laptops, mobile phones or smartphones, tablets, and cloud services. Moreover, it is also aimed to develop a model of Personal Digital Archiving process for desktop and ubiquitous devices. This study used Preferred Reporting Items for the Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines for searching and devising, and inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Search was conducted from selected repositories, databases, and core journals, potentially containing studies related with Personal Digital Archiving. Consequently, 21 studies were included through identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion of studies process. It was found that people used multiple devices such as mobile phones or smartphones along with other devices. It was established that people had also used cloud services with different devices including computers and smartphones or tablets for Personal Digital Archiving. Five major categories of individuals’ Personal Digital Archiving practices, that is, backup, replication or duplication, reorganizing and updating, cleaning or removing, and migration of information were found. Moreover, emotional motives, technological causes, alternative access, easy retrieval, and task completion were the reasons to adopt Personal Digital Archiving. On the basis of findings of selected studies, researchers developed a four steps model of Personal Digital Archiving process, consisting of initiation, identification, action, and evaluation constructs. Personal Digital Archiving challenges were also identified such as the individuals had to face through the use of desktop and ubiquitous devices including technical, fragmented and overloaded information, lack of training and expertise, and psychological and miscellaneous challenges. Personal Digital Archiving process model is based on the extracted data from studies published worldwide, and it is useful for both desktop and ubiquitous devices with reference to Personal Information Management context. The findings of the study will be helpful for software designers and android application developers to design and develop users’ centered Personal Information Management software.

PENTINGNYA PERSONAL DIGITAL ARCHIVE DALAM KEHIDUPAN SEHARI – HARI (THE IMPORTANT OF PERSONAL DIGITAL ARCHIVE IN DAILY ACTIVITY)

Personal Digital Archive is one of the important things in daily life, as the purpose of preserving private archives that are mostly produced in digital form. However, some people tend not to consider it so important, sometimes they end up with missing, corrupted, and inaccessible personal files in that digital form. There will be so many benefits of the private archive preservation in the long term. Good personal digital archive management has a very significant impact on a person, even after the death of that person. This may be useful for future research or inheritance for families after the death. This paper discusses views on how important to manage personal digital archiving in daily life, as well as guidance on how to do personal digital archiving as a good effort of preservation of personal digital archive for long period of time. It is an easy thing to collect personal digital content, but it will take a lot of time to manage it. The average person can collect hundreds of thousands of emails, digital photos, text messages, audio visual recordings, and other digital files in a lifetime. If the file is not properly managed, it will be difficult to find, identify, and access the content in the future.

Information School academics and the value of their personal digital archives

Introduction.This paper explores the value that academics in an information school assign to their digital files and how this relates to their personal information management and personal digital archiving practices. Method. An interpretivist qualitative approach was adopted with data from in-depth interviews and participant-led tours of their digital storage space. Analysis. The approach taken was thematic analysis. Results. Participants placed little value on their digital material beyond the value of its immediate use. They did not attach worth to their digital files for reuse by others, for sentiment, to project their identity or for the study of the development of the discipline or the study of the creative process. This was reflected in storage and file-naming practices, and the lack of curatorial activity. Conclusions. This paper is one of the first to investigate academics' personal information management and personal digital archiving practices, especially to focus on the value of digital possessions. The paper begins to uncover the importance of wider contextual factors in shaping such practices. Institutions need to do more to encourage academics to recognise the diverse types of value in the digital material they create.

Book review: Brianna H Marshall (ed.), The Complete Guide to Personal Digital Archiving

The Complete Guide to Personal Digital Archiving is a valuable addition to the growing range of publications focusing on the management of digital media. In addition to its US emphasis, what sets the work apart from other contributions to this emerging field, is its focus on the personal and familial. Marshall proposes that PDA (Personal Digital Archiving) is, in effect, a natural extension to the work of information professionals, and that the work may be used as a primer for information professionals beginning their own journey into PDA. However, many of the insights that may be gleaned from the text are applicable to anyone with an interest in preserving digital content.

Postgraduates' personal digital archiving practices in China: Problems and strategies

This study examined postgraduates' personal digital archiving (PDA) practices in China. Based on a case study of the PDA practices of postgraduates in Wuhan University, many problems in PDA were found; postgraduates have a higher awareness of PDA, but the differences between different grades level and disciplines are obvious. Many postgraduates are technological optimists. Those who realize the importance of PDA lack real action and can only use a single strategy. The protection of personal privacy and information security is still challenging. To solve these problems, efforts from individuals and institutions are proposed, including the suggestion that institutions should implement an advanced intervention in PDA progress to improve postgraduates' PDA awareness, and the suggestion that postgraduates should view archiving technology dialectically and make rational use of archiving tools, using various strategies, regularizing their PDA behavior, and taking multiple measures to protect their personal privacy and information security.

A Web of Snowflakes: Meditations on the Memory Lab Network Project

AbstractThis article introduces the DC Public Library’s Memory Lab, designed to bring personal digital archiving to the public, and its inspiring the IMLS-funded Memory Lab Network project. This ongoing project will bring the Memory Lab model to fourteen other public libraries across the country. However, a prefabricated Memory Lab handed out to each partner library is proving to be impractical and impossible. The Memory Lab Network’s project manager shares recommendations, considerations, and key takeaways on equipment, purchasing, and physical space for anyone wishing to build a personal digital archiving lab themselves.

Personal and Community Connection: Introduction to the Special Issue on Personal Digital Archiving 2018

AbstractOn April 23–25, 2018, the University of Houston hosted the annual Personal Digital Archiving (PDA) Conference in Houston, Texas. The conference is a focused, single-track event that brings together information professionals, students, and non-academics. Though small, the conference commonly attracts attendees from around the world to discuss topics focused on the intersection of personal archiving and technology. The three-day event was comprised of two full days of presentations to all attendees. Over 140 attendees from five countries were in attendance. Two keynotes, nineteen sessions with question and answer panels, seven posters, and six lightning talks were presented. A third day offered two hands-on workshops and a tour of the Houston Metropolitan Research Center. In this introduction, the Chair of the Conference Planning Committee and Guest Editor of this issue, Melody Condron, discusses highlights of the conference, as well as themes and discussion that tie into the papers presented in this issue.

The Personal Digital Archiving Conference: Looking Back at 2018 and Ahead to 2019

AbstractThis review of the 2018 conference hosted by the University of Houston Libraries, includes an introduction to the Personal Digital Archiving conference an summary of the 2018 event, and a brief discussion of the upcoming 2019 conference to be held at the University of Pittsburgh.

Building Companionship Between Community and Personal Archiving: Strengthening Personal Digital Archiving Support in Community-Based Mobile Digitization Projects

AbstractThe interconnectedness between personal digital archiving (PDA) and community-based digital archiving provides an entry point for thinking about how to better bridge the two within single projects. Flexibility and sustainability are dimensions that warrant special consideration to support PDA within community-based digital archiving projects. This paper examines the flexibility and sustainability of two community-based mobile digitization projects (Culture in Transit and Georgia HomePLACE DigiKits) in supporting PDA. The assessment shows that the projects are in a good position to support PDA, with only some concerns about ensuring sustainable access to digitization equipment and sufficient guidance in long-term preservation. Drawing from this work, I propose three ways community-based mobile digitization projects can be redesigned to further strengthen their support for PDA without undermining their community-based objectives. The goal of this paper is to demonstrate the value in considering connections and differences between community and personal archiving needs in current and future projects, and calls for further coordination of efforts and collaboration to build better collaboration between community and personal archiving.

Identifying Individual and Institutional Motivations in Personal Digital Archiving

AbstractPersonal digital archiving (PDA) is a relatively new field. As it has developed, two distinct personas have emerged: the individual person, seeking to capture and archive their own or someone else’s personal digital materials; and the institution—including museums, libraries, and archives—attempting to acquire and manage personal digital materials. In doing so, institutions also advocate for the preservation and management of personal digital archives and digital file management practices held in private hands. However, individuals and institutions make different choices in terms of curation and management, based on skills, knowledge, purpose, function and economics. Understanding these differences can aid institutional support for personal archives, as well as help to build collaborative frameworks to help personal and institutional differences be better understood. This paper identifies the similarities and differences in motivation and approach between individual and institutional practices and perspectives in PDA.

The Complete Guide to Personal Digital Archiving. Edited by Brianna H. Marshall. [Review

The Complete Guide to Personal Digital Archiving. Edited by Brianna H. Marshall. [Review

Keeping born-digital literary and artistic archives in an imperfect world: theory, best practice and good enoughs

Born-digital literary and artistic archives present interesting challenges. Their creators are people who are seeking an audience and therefore might have a concern for how they are viewed by posterity, but the limited means and motivation for many and the idiosyncrasies of their creative processes might lead them to neglect their digital records. Much of the advice developed for the keeping of electronic records has emerged from the corporate sector and has in mind the kind of expertise and guidance applied at relatively early stages of managing records. These conditions do not apply to the realm of personal records. Archival theory and practice relating to personal records will be explored, along with emerging fields of study such as personal digital archiving (PDA) emphasizing actual behaviour in electronic records environments. The problem of benign neglect will be central to this discussion and the exploration of minimalist interventions that can offset its most egregious effects, particularly through tailored outreach to early career artists and writers. Approaches that will contend with the inevitably imperfect archives that will arrive at archival institutions will also be briefly considered.

The Behavior and Perception of Personal Digital Archiving of Chinese University Students

It is widely received that personal records are a kind of unique documentary evidence for both individual and the society. Thus, same care is required for the preservation of personal records as for public records. While personal archiving in the analogue environment has been extensively studied by scholars from different fields, the rapidly changing web environment are raising new challenges on personal information behavior, further, personal digital archiving. To effectively address these challenges, it is important to first understand what the individuals’ perception and behavior of personal digital archiving are. The proposed presentation aims to contribute to this knowledge by discussing the preliminary results of a mixed-method study on the behavior and perception of personal digital archiving of Chinese university students. More specifically, the mixed-method study is approached sequentially by first using a web-based questionnaire to investigate Chinese university students’ perception of personal digital archiving when using email and blogs, which is followed by a semi-structured interview of information professionals to solicit their opinions on the results of the web-based questionnaire and the role of information professionals for facilitating personal digital archiving. The results of this study will shed light on Chinese university students’ awareness of personal records preservation, the measures used for personal records preservation, the difficulties encountered, and responsibilities of different stakeholders (e.g., individual, web service provider, and information professionals) for personal digital archiving. This knowledge will help identify focal areas for future personal digital archiving research.