These are introductory resources that cover a broad range of digital curation topics, to supplement UGA-specific training. The other documentation in this training series also has references to other resources about those topics.
Disclaimer: we’ve briefly reviewed these to verify that the information is reasonable but have not fully read or watched all of these. They were included based on the range of topics and the reliability of the creating group.
Levels of Digital Preservation (NDSA, 2019)
https://ndsa.org//publications/levels-of-digital-preservation/
High level summary of the features of digital preservation, covering storage, integrity, control, metadata, and content. Used as part of the DCWG self-assessment in 2021. NDSA is a membership organization (at the institutional level) focused on advocacy, community building, and providing professional development opportunities. We have used the levels in our self-assessment since 2018.
Topical Notes Series (DPC)
https://www.dpconline.org/digipres/discover-good-practice/tech-watch-reports
Short summaries of digital preservation issues for non-specialists. Especially relevant are “What is Digital Preservation?”, “Back-Up and Storage”, “File Naming and Formats”, and “Metadata”.
Digital POWRR Webinar Series (2016)
https://digitalpowrr.niu.edu/digital-preservation-101/digital-powrr-webinar/
Videos for four modules: Theory vs. Action, Tools, Triage (accessioning, metadata), and Advocacy and Policy. Digital POWRR is a grant-funded initiative to make digital preservation accessible to a wider range of professionals.
Digital Preservation Handbook (DPC, 2015)
https://www.dpconline.org/handbook
A peer-reviewed text-based knowledge base with an introduction to a wide range of digital curation topics. The main sections are Organizational Activities (workflows for digital objects lifecycle), Institutional Strategies (policy, advocacy, etc.), and Technical Solutions and Tools. DPC is a global membership organization and charity focused on sustainable digital preservation.
Digital Preservation Management Workshop: Tutorial
https://www.dpworkshop.org/dpm-eng/eng_index.html
Text-based overview of digital preservation concepts, challenges, and solutions. Developed at Cornell and MIT and maintained by a consultant group of former MIT employees.
Novice to Know-How: Online Digital Preservation Training (DPC)
https://www.dpconline.org/digipres/prof-development/n2kh-online-training
Asynchronous training courses to give practitioners with no experience the skills needed to do digital preservation at their organization. DPC is a global membership organization and charity focused on sustainable digital preservation. Courses are a mix of video, text, and quizzes. Free but requires registration. The options are:
Digital Preservation Skills for Beginners (2-3 days)
Providing Access to Preserved Digital Content (1 day, also part of Skills for Beginners)
Email Preservation (new, no time estimate yet)
State Eletronic Records Initiative (SERI) Resources
https://archives.utah.gov/community/SERI/SERI-resources.html
Includes two video series for training state archivists on digital preservation. Managing Digital Content Over Time looks to be very introductory from the titles (Identify, Select, Store, Protect, Manage, Provide). Each video is 15-35 minutes long. There is also a 2020-21 Video Series that are each about 10 minutes long: Intro, Custody Transfers, Key Concepts in Digital Processing, Making the Pitch for Electronic Records, Metadata, File Formats, Email Appraisal, Protected Information in Public Records, and Tips for Using Google, TeraCopy, and FolderSizes.
The Open Archival Information System (OAIS) Reference Model: Introductory Guide (2nd Edition) by Brian Lavoie (DPC Technology Watch Report, 2014)
https://www.dpconline.org/docs/technology-watch-reports/1359-dpctw14-02/file
A summary of all the major concepts from the OAIS reference model, which is the foundation for how we’ve built our digital preservation program. While it is 37 pages, only about 15 cover what OAIS is. The rest is introductory material and an analysis of the impact of OAIS.
Trusted Digital Repositories: Attributes and Responsibilities (RLG-OCLC, 2002)
https://www.oclc.org/content/dam/research/activities/trustedrep/repositories.pdf
The first two sections of this report (Trusted Digital Repositories and Attributes of a Trusted Digital Repository) summarize the foundational concepts of trustworthy digital repositories, and the attributes mirror the organization of our Digital Preservation Policy. The rest of the report has detailed actions to potentially take, which could be out of date in some cases.
Understanding PREMIS by Priscilla Caplan (Library of Congress, 2017)
https://www.loc.gov/standards/premis/understanding-premis-rev2017.pdf
Overview of the PREMIS preservation metadata standard, which we used as the basis of the ARCHive (digital preservation system) data model.
Digital Preservation in Libraries: Preparing for a Sustainable Future (ALA, 2019)
https://galileo-uga.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01GALI_UGA/1bvcvhk/alma9922173543902931
Book with essays on digital preservation topics and case studies from different institutions. UGA Libraries has access as an eBook. Recommended by a colleague.
Digital Preservation Resource Guide (Digital Preservation Outreach & Education Network)
https://www.dpoe.network/digital-preservation-resource-guide/
An annotated list of free resources. Most cover a single area of digital preservation. DPOE-N used to be operated by the Library of Congress and now is operated by Pratt Institute. They also maintain a list of training opportunities (https://www.dpoe.network/training-opportunities-by-subject/) and provide funding for continued education.
The No-Nonsense Guide to Born-Digital Content by Heather Ryan and Walker Sampson (2018)
https://galileo-uga.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01GALI_UGA/1bvcvhk/alma9949500706202959
Entry-level, practical discussion of the lifecycle (selection, accession, description, preservation, access) of born-digital information.
DPC Technology Watch Publications
https://www.dpconline.org/digipres/discover-good-practice/tech-watch-reports
Brief guidance on a wide range of digital preservation topics. DPC is a global membership organization and charity focused on sustainable digital preservation.
The Theory and Craft of Digital Preservation by Trevor Owens (2018)
https://galileo-uga.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01GALI_UGA/1bvcvhk/alma9949162659502959
Conceptual foundations for building and sustaining a digital preservation program. UGA Libraries has an eBook and the Russell Library has a paper copy.
Trends in Archival Practice (Society of American Archivists)
https://www2.archivists.org/publications/book-publishing/trends-in-archives-practice
Series on current issues in archives, with emphasis on practical advice. All are written for the “digital age”, but the following are especially focused on digital archives:
Becoming a Trusted Digital Repository (2015) - Russell Bib Area
Digital Preservation Essentials (2016) - Russell Bib Area
Rights in the Digital Era (2015) - Russell Bib Area