Digitization and Digital Archiving: A Practical Guide for Librarians

by Elizabeth R Leggett

Overview

To help new archivists and genealogists with what can be a daunting process, Digitization and Digital Archiving: A Practical Guide for Librarians answers common questions, including:

1. What should be stored?
2. Where and how should it be stored?
3. How exactly is information stored in a computer?
4. How does copyright law affect archiving?

5. How can metadata be used to improve collection access?

This revised second edition has been updated to address new trends and the latest innovations in technology, including:

1. A brand-new chapter addressing different common types of born-digital materials which a librarian may need to archive, such as databases or websites
2. Information about identifying and gathering data from floppy disks, an increasingly important task as this technology ages and its data becomes at greater risk of loss
3. Fully updated chapters to address the latest changes in file storage and formats, including more information on the storage of audio and video media
4. Interesting information about the origins of different common technologies to help the reader better understand the past, present, and future of computer technology

This is a comprehensive guide to the process of digital storage and archiving. Assuming only basic computer knowledge, this guide walks the reader through everything he or she needs to know to start or maintain a digital archiving project. Any librarian interested in how digital information is stored can benefit from this guide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538133354
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	12/15/2020
Series:	Practical Guides for Librarians , #71
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	258
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Elizabeth R. Leggett is a technical writer specializing in writing about software and technology. She has worked in libraries and archives at Centre College, the University of Kentucky, and Murray State University.

Table of Contents

List of Figures

List of Tables

Preface

Chapter 1. Why Use Digital Preservation?

Chapter 2. How Do Computers Store Information?

Chapter 3. Storing Images

Chapter 4. Storing Text

Chapter 5: Storing Audio and Video

Chapter 6: Storing Born Digital Materials

Chapter 7: Floppy Disks and Optical Media

Chapter 8: Magnetic Tape

Chapter 9: Hard Drives

Chapter 10: Flash Memory

Chapter 11: Cloud Computing

Chapter 12: Equipment for Digitizing and Editing Archival Materials

Chapter 13: Metadata and Accessing Information

Chapter 14: Copyright Law

Chapter 15: Problems With Digital Preservation

Chapter 16: Drawing Up Policies

About the Author

Index

Editorial Reviews

Elizabeth R. Leggett has written a thorough examination of the history, ideas, and practices of digitization and digital archiving. This valuable resource will guide readers along the path to understanding no matter where they are starting from.

Joy M. Perrin

This book covers tools and methods and will be useful for library professionals and students who are interested in starting a digital archives project... Digitization and Digital Archiving: A Practical Guide for Librarians would work well as a reference text. It would be a practical addition to a public or community archives library collection, library schools, and any other collection whose mission may include preservation of materials.

Journal of the Medical Library Association

Leggett's guide on the practicalities of digitization and digital archiving is one of the better introductions into the often-overwhelming world of digital librarianship. From the eccentricities of archiving born-digital materials to the logistics of selecting and using various necessary equipment, Digitization and Digital Archiving: A Practical Guide for Librarians, Second Edition offers practitioners from all areas of librarianship a solid foundation for exploring and understanding digitization.

Matthew C. Mariner

Traditional archives have been slow to preserve born-digital primary resources with the same vigor, care, and understanding as their tactile cousins. That trend is changing at last, and with increasing awareness of the need for personal archiving of everything from iPhone photos to email, Leggett's book provides a practical resource for amateur and professional alike. This updated edition perfectly balances new technologies with time-tested methodologies. From this digital archivist's perspective, Digitization and Digital Archiving: A Practical Guide for Librarians, Second Edition is far more useful for one's personal library than any other single resource to date.

Kopana Terry

Elizabeth R. Leggett has written a thorough examination of the history, ideas, and practices of digitization and digital archiving. This valuable resource will guide readers along the path to understanding no matter where they are starting from.

Leggett's guide on the practicalities of digitization and digital archiving is one of the better introductions into the often-overwhelming world of digital librarianship. From the eccentricities of archiving born-digital materials to the logistics of selecting and using various necessary equipment, Digitization and Digital Archiving: A Practical Guide for Librarians, Second Edition offers practitioners from all areas of librarianship a solid foundation for exploring and understanding digitization.

This book covers tools and methods and will be useful for library professionals and students who are interested in starting a digital archives project... Digitization and Digital Archiving: A Practical Guide for Librarians would work well as a reference text. It would be a practical addition to a public or community archives library collection, library schools, and any other collection whose mission may include preservation of materials.

Traditional archives have been slow to preserve born-digital primary resources with the same vigor, care, and understanding as their tactile cousins. That trend is changing at last, and with increasing awareness of the need for personal archiving of everything from iPhone photos to email, Leggett's book provides a practical resource for amateur and professional alike. This updated edition perfectly balances new technologies with time-tested methodologies. From this digital archivist's perspective, Digitization and Digital Archiving: A Practical Guide for Librarians, Second Edition is far more useful for one's personal library than any other single resource to date.

From the Publisher

Overall, the book is written in a very straightforward and accessible style.. . .It may be of interest to those seeking an introductory guide to IT concepts.

Archives and Records: The Journal of the Archives and Records Association

Leggett's book, written for librarians, has value for genealogists. She gives practical and general guidelines needed to create digital libraries that can survive so future descendants may read and enjoy them.. . .This book gives an easy-to-read overview of technical terms.. . .It is useful for personal and library research.

National Genealogical Society Quarterly

This book looks at various types of electronic formats, hardware and software, and talks about the advantages and problems of using them to store and access information.. . .The text is clear, easy to read, and very well segmented with white space, dividing lines, and section headings.. . .[The book] is of most interest to libraries and archives that are considering or already involved with these kinds of digital projects, librarians with no experience in this kind of activity, institutions supporting LIS and/or archival programs, or community groups that want to try something along these lines.

American Reference Books Annual