Phased Custody and Delivery of Digitally-Reformatted Resources
Custody of Preservation Digital Reproductions
Traditionally, service copies of microfilm and preservation paper facsimiles
(formerly called preservation photocopies) are in the custody of public service
units responsible for managing and delivering collection items. With digital
reproductions, custodial responsibility becomes a collective effort. The
Preservation Reformatting Division (PRD) will undertake custodianship of
preservation digital reproductions, in collaboration with relevant Library
units such as Information Technology Services (ITS), in direct proportion
to the level of resources available in a custodial division to perform this
work. As the level of these types of resources in custodial divisions increases,
PRD will decrease its role as custodian.
Delivery of Preservation Digital Reproductions
The Preservation Reformatting Division will also take responsibility for
the full range of activities required to deliver digitally-reformatted
materials online, in collaboration with relevant Library units such as
Information Technology Services and other partners, in direct proportion
to the level of resources available in a custodial division or supporting
service unit to perform this work. As the level of these types of resources
in custodial divisions and supporting service units increases, PRD will
decrease its role in the online delivery of preservation digital reproductions.
The Preservation Reformatting Division has established the following guidelines for creation and delivery of digital reproductions.
Minimum preservation requirements for digital reformatting - Based on the principles and specifications outlined for preservation digital reformatting, emphasis is placed on:
- high-quality master digital files that allow for a broad range of future use
- completeness of original work and its digital reproduction
- minimal levels of bibliographic description according to established LC cataloging policies
- searchable full-text (dirty OCR) with minimal encoding (when appropriate), or other modest access aids such as guides, and
- the use of relevant standards and best practice, whenever possible
Phased delivery - minimum preservation requirements for digital reformatting should result in a baseline digital reproduction that can be used conveniently, but also expanded or elaborated on at any time, by any party, through:
- processing new or different versions of digital images for use in new delivery contexts
- adding supplementary, or finer granularity of, descriptive metadata
- adding supplementary access aids or interpretive "value-added" materials (such as historical background essays, timelines, or exhibits) to online delivery environment
- editing and correcting searchable texts
- editing and incorporating "value-added" analysis or commentary in a higher level of text encoding
- adding enhanced levels of indexing and navigation
- creating links to, or interoperability with, other digital resources
- the incorporation of new relevant standards and best practices, whenever possible
Preservation Digital Reformatting Program | Digital Projects Table of Contents