Course Information

Foundations of Digital Preservation is a hands-on online workshop designed to introduce the core concepts, tools, and workflows needed to preserve digital content with integrity and sustainability.

The digital preservation community, throughout the past few decades, has devised a number of open-source tools and workflows that support the long-term preservation of digital assets. Even though digital preservation is a “solved problem,” there is a need for support in the field for professionals looking to earn proficiency in these tools and apply skills in their own institutional contexts.

This session is ideal for archivists, digital preservation professionals, librarians, records managers, and IT staff working with long-term data stewardship. Whether you're just getting started or looking to refine your preservation strategy, this workshop offers accessible guidance on working with file formats, ensuring data integrity, and managing digital preservation workflows. 

Topics Covered

• Identifying file formats using tools like DROID and Siegfried
• Converting proprietary files to open preservation-friendly formats (e.g., PDF/A, TIFF)
• Packaging and validating files using BagIt for secure storage and transfer
• Ensuring long-term access through file integrity checks (e.g., checksums)
• Using tools like TeraCopy for controlled data transfers
• Exploring emulation techniques for accessing legacy files 

Workshop Activities

• Tool Demo: Hands-on practice with format identification and validation tools
• Conversion Exercise: Migrating proprietary files to preservation standards
• Packaging Simulation: Using BagIt to structure and validate a digital package
• Transfer Challenge: Simulating a data handoff between institutions
• Discussion: Emulation, automation, and future-proofing your digital assets 

Course Timing

• 12:00hrs - 16:30hrs

For more information and to register, visit the webpage.