Obsolete Media

Annotated Bibliography: Created by Sarah Andrus, Crystal Corcoran, Kylista Geiger, Linda Schaller

Guidelines for media resources in academic libraries: Approved by the ACRL Board of Directors April, 2012. College & Research Libraries News, 73(10), 614-623.

This article discusses the main issues with collecting and maintaining media resources. This revised version of the original guideline published in 1999 after the rapid growth of digital media, gives a standard for a model media resources program, guidelines, objectives, organization, budget, the collections, facilities, preservation, and background. In the preservation section, the ACRL gives their standard on how obsolete materials should be systematically removed or replaced in the collection as necessary. There is further commentary elaborating this guideline. Such as what to do with worn materials, allocating budget for replacement of media resources, and maintaining access to content.

Bearman, D. (1999, April). Reality and chimeras in the preservation of electronic records. D-Lib Magazine, 5(4). doi:10.1045/april99-bearman

This is an opinion piece by David Bearman, in response to a published paper by Jeff Rothenberg regarding emulation as the solution to obsolete media and the preservation t of electronic records. Bearman is a founding partner of Archives and Museum Informatics and is a consultant for cultural organizations on information strategy. The author finds fault with the Rothenberg’s approach and provides critical analysis to those readers interested in electronic record preservation and solutions to media obsolescence. Bearman does not try to discuss the technical aspects, nor does he wish to reiterate the points stated in Rothenberg’s examples. Instead, his focus is on how the approach to emulation itself is misguided. Instead of preserving information system functionality, more attention should be paid on the actual records. Bearman also finds fault with Rothenberg’s dismissal of migration, claiming that there is not enough primary evidence to reject it completely. He offers a better solution: migration coupled with metadata encapsulation. Proper metadata is required with any preservation strategy so that records are properly identified, created, and preserved effectively, and ultimately, opened for future use.

Becker, C. (2014). Sustainability and Longevity: Two Sides of the Same Quality?. Mental, 20, 21.

Written from a software engineer’s perspective this article discusses the aims of digital curators and their relationship with the software and systems they use. It compares software’s sustainability to the longevity curator’s desire when preserving media and gives a further understanding into the other players helping to fight obsolescence.

Bellacosa, M. (2010). Meeting the challenge from technological obsolescence: The case of the disappearing slide projector. Current Studies In Librarianship,30(1/2), 7-17.

In this article the author studies a single instance of forced obsolescence when Eastman Kodak announced the plan to phase out their product line of slide projectors and film. This forced obsolescence brought to the forefront several questions for many institutions, particularly those who are a repository for artistic images. These questions included determining what to do with their large collections of 35mm slides. Do they digitize? Do they hoard machines and components? Readers will find this article helpful for gaining insight into a real world situation, as the author provides a view into the different digital paths that were taken by several of these repositories and the results therein.

Brabazon, T. (2013). Dead media: Obsolescence and redundancy in media history, First Monday, 18(7). doi: 10.5210/fm.v18i7.4466.

This article takes a look at the challenge posed by Bruce Sterling in the mid-1990s to study and understand “Dead Media”. The author more precisely investigates the term “dead media” itself, its definition, its lifecycle and its impact upon both the present and the future. The author makes the case to the reader that there is a need for studying media and its usage, particularly old media, so that in the future we can curb waste, increase sustainability, and prolong the operability of media.

Brand, S., & Sanders, T. (1999). Escaping the digital dark age. Library Journal, 124(2), 46-48.

“Escaping the Digital Dark Age” is a treatise aimed at exposing the true issue of technological obsolescence and making the reader aware that technology, while making life easier in the here and now, is disappearing as it ages. As a result of this information we are made aware that beyond technological obsolescence, inaccessible media is another side of an ever-increasing problem. Author Stewart Brand is a scientist and author who raises the alarm for a need to create a long-term technological solution to our dwindling digital memory, and to change our mindset toward one that creates a digital culture that supports long-term preservation.

Chen, S. (2001). The paradox of digital preservation. Computer, 34(3), 24-28. doi:10.1109/2.910890

The paradox of digital preservation, as discussed in this article by Su-Shing Chen, is the conflict between traditional preservation and access to digital information. Preserving things traditionally means to keep it unchanged. However, the change in format for recording information change and the hardware and software need to be able to recover that digital information. This is the paradox Chen introduces. He goes on to discuss the issue with digital preservation requirements for content, formats and styles, and context. Chen further explains that rapid technological advances do not solve the problems of short media life, and obsolete hardware and software. Instead the digital materials need to migrate between shifts in technological generations. Chen also points out the added issue of defunct web sites to the list of challenges in digital preservation. Chen clearly articulates the issues surround digital preservation, makes a point of discussing obsolete media formats. Although this article is older, it is still relevant to the topic of obsolete media because of its thorough discussion into the topic of preservation media formats while still maintaining access to the materials.

Duckett, R. J. (1997). If you can't access it, does it exist? Library Association Record, 99, 207-207.

In this short article Bob Duckett, a reference librarian for Bradford Libraries, discusses what librarians can do to keep up with changing information formats. Duckett focuses primarily on hardware used to view these different formats. He uses the example of companies not providing replacement parts for machines like the Recordak microfilm viewer and therefore fixing those machines is getting increasingly more difficult and expensive. Duckett also discusses to time and cost required to converts from format to format and how this would seem the easiest solution, but he is doubtful much will be done. The issue of software and digital information storage are only briefly touched on. This article was written in 1997 and is therefore dated in terms of current formats. Duckett ends this article with a call-to-action for librarians regarding what he views as the most important issue. He asks librarians to keep, maintain, and make available for use as much equipment as possible so outdated formats can still be useable.

Entlich, R., & Buckley, E. (2006, October 15). Digging up bits of the past: Hands-on with obsolescence. In RLG Diginews. Retrieved October 22, 2015, from pandora.nla.gov.au.

This article was posted in the October 2006 edition of RLG DigiNews, by Richard Entlich and Ellie Buckley of Cornell University, and describes the establishment and operation of the Cornell File Format and Media Migration Pilot Service. The intention of the program was to determine if there really was a dire need to protect digital content due to media obsolescence. Two articles at the time dismissed the “doom and gloom” attitude of digital preservation, claiming that digital loss was a non-issue. The study served to counteract those claims by providing actual case studies from the two years the pilot service existed. This article would be of particular interest to those interested in treating obsolete media, actual data migration, and the obstacles one might encounter in a format and media migration program. Prior to the description of the pilot service set-up and operation, Entlich and Buckley provide a brief history of the evolution of PC software. At the study’s conclusion, the authors focus on lessons learned rather than technical details. They found relatively few examples of defective media (less than 5%). Obsolescence and inadequate metadata were far more significant threats to data longevity than media failure and that regular and timely migration offered the best prospect for long-term preservation of digital objects.

Fitzpatrick, K. (2008). Obsolescence. Modern Language Association, 123(3), 718-722. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/25501893

Kathleen Fitzpatrick discusses media obsolescence through her experiences with academic publishing. Fitzpatrick argues that the academic book obsolescence is not so much a material problem as it is institutional one. The problem is not so much the book’s form as it is the system and the process that the book is created through. There has been a shift in material formats for academic books with more digital distribution of text. However, Fitzpatrick says that the print form is still functioning well and the digital is more likely to face material obsolescence. She discusses the changes in the changes in Apple software have made it difficult to read digital versions of some texts and publishers do not release new versions that can be read by newer operating systems. In summary, Fitzpatrick argues that obsolescence is not just material, but institutional. The focus should not be on what technology is the most viable for the future, but on the institutions commitment to developing the system to make the technology viable into the future. This article is relevant to the topic of media obsolescence because it gives an interesting perspective on viewing obsolescence as more than just material, but also institutional.

Galloway, P. (2011). Retrocomputing, archival research, and digital heritage preservation: A computer museum and iSchool collaboration. Library Trends, 59(4), 623-636.

Patricia Galloway of The School of Information, University of Texas-Austin, an expert in museum studies and digital archiving, documents the budding and mutually beneficial relationship of the School of Information with the newly formed Goodwill Computer Museum. Galloway describes several joint projects where the GCM received advice on archiving practices from the iSchool, while their students gained practical experience with legacy computing. She documents the many issues they encountered, such as how they gained access to legacy media via retrocomputing and emulation. Readers interested in an actual collaboration of information professionals with subject specialists will gain insight into how a successful partnership was formed and how it continues to grow.

Garfinkel, S. (2003, December 3). The Myth of doomed data: The Handwringing about obsolete formats is misguided. The Digital files we create today will be around for a very, very long time. In MIT Technology Review. Retrieved October 22, 2015, from pandora.nla.gov.au.

This article offers an opposing viewpoint to the belief that digital files and formats are in real danger of becoming inaccessible. Researchers looking for solutions to media and format obsolescence may find this article either reassuring or naïve. The author, Simson Garfinkel, is a computer security research scientist, who holds 6 U.S. patents for his computer-related research. His viewpoint is based on the successful rescue of the files from the BBC Domesday project – because those files were eventually accessed, given enough time and money, any files can be accessed. He believes that as long as technology is distributed widely throughout society, access will be enabled. He also supports the concept of a 'digital lock box', which would store and retrieve data in obsolete formats. Although this article was published 12 years ago, it does make a couple good points. Preserving the Domesday data was time-consuming and expensive, and not everyone has access to the computer engineering manpower to retrieve their own files. However, not all digital files are worth preserving. Domesday was. The Domesday Project taught us that nonstandard file formats carry a hidden cost and should be avoided.

Gibney, A. (2006). "Mind the gap: Digital preservation and why you should be worried.". Information Management and Technology, 39(3), 108-109.

Do you have a disk of pictures taken long ago that you can’t access now? Will you be able to access it in the future? Author Gibney provides the reader with a brief review of a survey conducted by the Digital Preservation Coalition, also entitled Mind the Gap that discusses large scale data loss due to obsolescence, media deterioration, etc. Those seeking a quick summation of the survey will find this article useful. Suggestions are given as to what is at risk, what is needed to preserve data in the future and standards that should be created and followed.

Granger, S. (2000, October). Emulation as a digital preservation strategy. D-Lib Magazine, 6(10). Retrieved from www.dlib.org. doi: 10.1045/october2000-granger

This article is from D-Lib Magazine, an electronic publication centered on digital library research and development. It was written by Stewart Granger, the UK project coordinator for the CAMiLEON Project at the University of Leeds. CAMiLEON stands for Creative Archiving at Michigan and Leeds, and is a joint NSF/JISC funded project aimed toward the assessment of emulation as a digital preservation strategy. Written in 2000, the article focuses on emulation as the solution to media obsolescence. It begins with a description of migration, and the dangers and costs that make emulation a better choice. The author describes the technical approach, as well as the issues of emulation, such as content, legal or organizational issues, and standards. Jeff Rothenberg, a proponent of emulation, is mentioned quite frequently, and Granger lists Rothenberg’s reasons for dismissal of other digital preservation strategies – the reliance on hard copies, standards, computer museums, and migration. The author also makes mention of David Bearman’s opposing view on emulation. The article ends with Granger providing several digital preservation scenarios. This publication offers a comprehensive overview of emulation, and at the same time discusses the problems with other media obsolescence strategies that have been published by other authors. The scenarios at the end of the article help the reader to visualize the issues of emulation and migration as digital preservation approaches.

Hedstrom, M. (1997). Digital preservation: A time bomb for digital libraries. Computers and the Humanities, 31(3), 189–202. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.proxy.lib.wayne.edu/stable/30200423

This article begins by establishing how digital preservation of materials adds an additional complication to libraries and other institutions already having problems trying to preserve their traditional collections. In addition, the rapid pace with which hardware, software, and computer storage are changing means that there are constantly new formats, and a distinct lack of established standards and methods for preserving digital information. At the time this article was written, digital library research was more focused on information organization, retrieval, and visualization. This leads to Hedstrom’s discussion on digital preservation requirements. She states that there are two different perspectives for digital preservation requirements: the users of the digital materials and the custodians of the materials. The argument is then made that preservation requirements should be made from both perspectives to better balance demands. The current preservation strategies (at the time the article was published) do not support achieving the objective of migration of materials for preservation. Hedstrom goes on to discuss research needs in media storage, conversion and management strategies. She closed by stating that there needs to be more venues to exchange ideas and developments in the digital preservation community. This article serves as a good introduction to the issues involved in digital preservation and migrating between media formats. While we have moved to a point where we have more established standards and methods for preserving digital information, this article

Heminger, A. R., & Kelley, D. M. (2005). Assessing the Digital Rosetta Stone Model for Long-Term Access to Digital Documents. Journal of Management Information Systems, 11-35.

This article is a response to the Digital Rosetta Stone Model. Through a survey with digital professionals there is a consensus that the DRS model is a step in the right direction in combating obsolete media, but few are optimistic about its implementation. The article also presents several other methods that are not as all-encompassing that can be implemented to prevent obsolete media from becoming completely useless.

Hoke, G.E.J. (2012, May-June). Future watch: Strategies for long-term preservation of electronic records. Information Management Journal, 46(3). Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.proxy.lib.wayne.edu/ps/i.do.?id=GALE%7CA301282208&v=2.1&u=lom_waynesu&it=r

This journal article appeared in the RIM Fundamentals section of the May/June 2012 edition of Information Management Journal, and was written by Gordon Hoke, a certified records manager. Hoke brings a broader perspective to digital preservation solutions, and this particular article would appeal to anyone who has a stake in preserving any kind of digital record – namely, everyone. The author discusses a broad range of preservation strategies and solutions to media obsolescence, along with the pros and cons of each, including print-to-paper, computer museums, microforms, migration, and archival formatting. Also discussed briefly are two methods not covered in prior articles: Rosetta HD, and C-Cube Software, which is being used in the UK. Hoke does not favor one method over the other, but instead feels that the best solution is to have a combination of methods based on specific needs, and provides the steps necessary to discern what is best for the individual. In conclusion, he favors the preservation methods of the Mayo Clinic. They use a combination of planning, migration staff, asset management, multiple backups, and ongoing strategies for infrastructure, which Hoke describes as “a blend of realism and best practices” (2012).

Kuny, T. (1998). The digital dark ages? challenges in the preservation of electronic information. International Preservation News, (17), 8-13.

This article, while eight years old, provides relevant concerns to be addressed when maintaining and preserving digital data and objects to prevent them from becoming obsolete. At the time of writing technology had a lifespan of about 18 months before becoming obsolete, and Kuny notes that copying is not enough to preserve, as a copy without the relevant software is functionally useless. Preservation needs to be more than moving from one storage medium to the next, but also transformation to different formats, and excepting the errors and potentially nontransferable objects that come with this process. He also addresses the important of the relationship between “hardware, software, and humaneware”, though it is noted that his is an expensive and time consuming process, and that the lack of dedication to this relationship often time leaves objects trapped in a “digital limbo” where they are unreadable.

Larsmo, O. (2008). The temptations of the dinosaur theory. LIBER Quarterly, 18(2), 304-309.

In this opinion piece article, Larsmo discusses the temptation to subject our digital heritage to the Dinosaur Theory, or the idea that when something new comes into existence, something old must die ( p. 307). The author cautions that the medium or format in which information is stored is not always superseded by the next latest and greatest thing to come along. Readers looking for an alternative point of view will find his argument that new digital media such as ebooks and iTunes will not always replace their predecessors the printed book or the vinyl record intriguing.

Lee, K. H., Slattery, O., Lu, R., Tang, X., & McCrary, V. (2002). The state of the art and practice in digital preservation. Journal of Research-National Institute of Standards and Technology, 107(1), 93-106.

This article focuses on the technical aspect of preservation and the issues it presents, with a detailed look at technical preservation, emulation, migration and encapsulation and the benefits and downfalls each have in terms of media obsolescence. It also presents many case studies showing examples of preservation techniques that fight obsolescence, and showcases the leaders in the fight for digital preservation. It argues for preservation standards based on XML.

Lin, L. S., Ramaiah, C. K., & Wal, P. K. (2003). Problems in the preservation of electronic records. Library Review, 52(3), 117-125.

This article deals in detail with the challenges of working with obsolete media. It addresses the need of organization level commitment to ensure that adequate resources are allotted to maintain resources for their continued readability and use in the future. It also addresses the issues of keeping digital records authentic while also maintaining their readability. It also provides a highly relevant list of options to try and combat data obsolescence that includes emulation, migrating of software and records, conversation to standard formats and preserving original technologies. Each of these topics is further expanded upon.

Masterson, R. L. (2009). Converting obsolete musical media to current formats: A copyright infringement defense arising from the right to repair and implied warranty of fitness. Temple Law Review, 82, 281-305

This article published in Temple Law Review looks at the changing formats for recorded music and how that affects the consumer. If an old player fails, the consumer has no way of playing the music on older media. However, Masterson looks at this problem from the perspective of the music copyright and how that applies to media migration for preservation purposes. He proposes that conversion of the music media is a viable solution to obsolete media formats and also within the rights of the user who own the obsolete media. Masterson then expands on law rights for the owner of the copyright and the purchaser of the media. This article also looks at the fair use doctrine and the permissible repair doctrine from patent law. Masterson’s article is very useful for the topic of obsolete media as it discusses more than the technical aspects and looks at the issue of copyright for the original format and how can possibly affect the preservation.

Mickens, L. M. (2009, May). Rescuing the legacy project: A case study in digital preservation and technical obsolescence (Master's thesis). Retrieved from https://smartech.gatech.edu/bitstream/handle/1853/28239/mickens_leah_m_200905_mast.pdf?sequence=1

This Master’s thesis was written by Leah Mickens at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her research focused on the Legacy Project, a multimedia kiosk installation at the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum in Atlanta. The project became inoperable after only two years, due to technological obsolescence. The paper provides a case study as to how institutions can preserve access to complex digital artifacts, and how to deal with obsolescence of media and hardware. Up to that point, most of the focus had been on preserving simple files such as emails, bitmaps, or word processing files. Complex digital museum installations had not been considered. Mickens provides a great deal of detail in her research, beginning with a glossary of technical terms, followed by an extensive literature review, mainly focused on records management. Additionally, there are sections covering the science of digital information, storage media, and the current state of digital preservation, as of 2009. She ends her paper discussing the issues raised by the Legacy Project, with a summary of the changes needed to ensure the long term maintenance of complex digital files. Figures throughout the paper help to illustrate her points. This is a very detailed research paper that provides a broad range of information about the technological aspects of digital preservation and media obsolescence.

Nokelainen, T., & Dedehayir, O. (2012). Why some obsolete media stick around: the case of the LP record. Proceeding of the 16th International Academic MindTrek Conference (MindTrek '12). ACM, New York, NY, USA, 105-112. DOI=http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/2393132.2393154

This paper, presented at the International Academic MindTrek Conference in Finland, use the LP record as a case study to discuss why certain obsolete media remains. Nokelainen and Dedehayir look at why some technologies, like the LP record, remain as a market presence even when they have already been replaced in the market. They argue that current theories are not able to properly explain because they focus on the changes in format dominance and not what happens to the technologies that have been replaced. This paper follows the LP record through its creation, the emergence of the CD and cassette that threatened it, and then its re-emergence with increasing sales. Nokelainen and Dedehayir go through existing theories, their research methodology, and the results. They found that the LP format allows listeners to be active agents in using the equipment and playing the music. Thus the LP is more about the experience than it is the function of the media format. Another very interesting paper. Offers a view onto affective responses to media.

Pace, A. K. (2000). Digital preservation: Everything new is old again. Computers in Libraries, 20(2), 55-58.

This article, written in 2000, sheds light on many of the early issues concerning data obsolescence, including the mac and PC divide. While some of the Pace’s points are more simplistic he does raise some introductory points about the use of refreshing, migration, and emulation as ways to work around obsolescence. This article also advises for administrative metadata to help preserve the appearance and functionality of the data.

Pearson, D. (n.d.). AONSII: Continuing the trend towards preservation software 'Nirvana'. In National Library of Australia, Web Archiving and Digital Preservation Branch. Retrieved October 22, 2015, from pandora.nla.gov.au.

David Pearson, of the National Library of Australia (NLA), wrote this paper about AONS II (Automatic Obsolescence Notification System, Version 2), a project undertaken by a partnership with the NLA, and the Australian Partnership for Sustainable Repositories (APSR). The project’s aim was to develop a software tool that would allow users to monitor the status of the file formats used in their institutions, to make risk assessments, and to receive notifications when those risks change. The belief behind the project is that format obsolescence is a potential major problem for every data user. In order to ensure long-term access and usability of digital files, repositories need to manage their format obsolescence risks. Some of the fundamentals of AONS II are that the software product use open code, be platform independent and interoperable, and be adaptable and demonstrable. The project also called for the preservation community to take part in a cooperating media obsolescence community that would include registries, software tool creators, and end users to curate digital files effectively for long-term access. The goal of AONS II was to allow users to manage the overall process of file format identification and the risks associated.

Plotnick, N. (2000, April 3). Old data never dies, it just gets unreadable. PC Week, 89. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.proxy.lib.wayne.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA61241626&v=2.1&u=lom_waynesu&it=r&p=AONE&asid=7514301c8ddbb8917971604c2060cf73

This short article discusses the old data formats that are used and stored at PC Week. He begins by discussing how Y2K (the article was published in 2000) prompted many companies to convert to newer hardware and software. However, there are still collections of obsolete media that cannot be retrieved using the modern systems. Plotnick discusses the possible strategies. The first is to retain any drives or adapters that are necessary to any media format, but this can cause issues with storage space and maintenance. The other strategy is migration of the old data to modern media. Plotnick also details that file formats may need to translated as well as transferred to new media.

Riley-Reid, T. D. (2015). The hidden cost of digitization – things to consider. Collection Building, 34(3), 89-93.

Riley-Reid begins by discussing how the advancement of technology has given new meaning to once simple things and how libraries need to cope with the advancement of technology and meeting users’ needs. He elaborates that the current push to shift from analog to digital presents more problems than might be initially apparent. Digitizing too quickly may cost an institution time and money if it is not done properly or is not necessary. Riley-Reid argues that institutions need to determine whether mass digitization is required or simple preservation. Successful digitization requires a well laid plan and organization and Riley-Reid goes on to describe a proper digitization project plan. The main point being made is that digitization is somewhat inevitable for most institutions and this article goes through each step of the digitization process to ensure it is done properly. However, Riley-Reid also want to make it known that digitization is not a simple step and before choosing this route of digital preservation careful thought she be put into the project. This article is helpful when looking at obsolete media because it explains to problems and concerns when jumping right into preservation through digitization. This article offers a cautionary tale for those that might assume that digitization as a means of preserving obsolete media would be the immediate and easiest option for an institution. It introduces some of the issues that should be considered when that route is taken.

Robertson, S. B. (1996). Digital Rosetta Stone: a conceptual model for maintaining long-term access to digital documents (No. AFIT/GIR/LAR/96D-8). Air Force Institute of Technology Wright-Patterson AFB OH.

This thesis proposes a model for emulation that would work to preserve using a base of a metaknowledge archive of directories, rules, and other digital aspects needed to maintain knowledge and recreate use of old formats. It is an early proposal that presents solutions to the many challenges that are faced when dealing with obsolete media. It is an essential piece that still brings up relevant points to current preservation issues despite it’s age.

Rojo, F. J. R., Roy, R., & Shehab, E. (2010). Obsolescence management for long-life contracts: state of the art and future trends. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 49(9-12), 1235-1250.

This article deals with various ways of planning and implementing changes for obsolete technology. While the article focuses mostly on military hardware, software is mentioned and many of the principles for mitigating loss and cost effective solutions are relevant to the obsolete media files as well.

Rosenthal, D. S. H. (2010). Format obsolescence: Assessing the threat and the defenses. Library Hi Tech, 28(2), 195-210. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/07378831011047613

The author of this article, who is from the Stanford library, discusses the threat and resolution of digital format obsolescence. Rosenthal touches on many key points regarding the topic such as the assessing the current standard preservation model, why it may not work, and the proposition of an alternative model. The prescribed resolution originally postulated in 1995 has many flaws, and Rosenthal suggests alternate means to preventing obsolescence. The article contains details regarding why commonly accepted practices for avoiding obsolescence are ineffective, and how to effectively deal with them. The proposed solution deals with only the essentials. Save only what is necessary, migrate only when absolutely necessary, and support open source applications or plug-ins to render data readable. Those involved with the preservation of common or uncommon file formats will find the author’s insight and guidance useful.

Rosenthal, D., Lipkis, T., Robertson, T. S., & Morabito, S. (2005, January). Transparent format migration of preserved web content. D-Lib Magazine', 11(1). doi:10-rosenthal

This article from D-Lib Magazine describes the LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keeps Stuff Safe) system of digital preservation developed by Stanford University. LOCKSS collects web content by searching the web and preserving it in the format specified by the publisher. The format can be converted to a newer format in order to avoid obsolescence. The authors go on to explain two strategies to combat format obsolescence of web content, emulation and migration, along with their strong and weak points, and then demonstrate how format migration on access in the LOCKSS system allows user to retain continued access to web material.

Rothenberg, J. (1999) Commission on Preservation and Access., & Council on Library and Information Resources. Avoiding technological quicksand: Finding a viable technical foundation for digital preservation : a report to the Council on Library and Information Resources. Washington, DC: Council on Library and Information Resources.

This report discusses the technical issues of long-term digital preservation, critiques the weaknesses of proposed solutions, and expounds on the emulation strategy. The main idea of this strategy is to emulate obsolete systems on future systems so that a digital file's original software can be accessed in the future despite being obsolete. The author feels this strategy has advantages over other proposed solutions, and in his view, it is the only true solution to the issue of media obsolescence and digital preservation. This report explores emulation in greater detail, and offers a positive spin on emulation, in contrast to other digital preservation articles, that seem to dismiss it as a viable strategy.

Sandborn, P. (2007). Software obsolescence-Complicating the part and technology obsolescence management problem. IEEE Transactions on Components and Packaging Technologies, 30(4), 886-888.

This article deals with the commercial aspect of planned obsolescence, and how advances in hardware cause the software advances that make media files useless on newer systems. It is an insight into the business aspect of what is driving the major changes in software that cause media obsolescence.

Simon, J. (2006). Recycling home movies. Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural Studies, 20(2), 189-199. doi:10.1080/10304310600641695

This article published in Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural Studies focuses on amateur filmmaking in Australia and the television series Homemade History. Simon uses this show as a way of viewing the relationship between obsolete media and amateur filmmaking. Homemade History is a series of 13 five-minute films that are compilations of home movie footage and commentary with the film participants remarks on the old footage. Simon uses this film series as an example of how digital media can provide a new way of revisiting obsolete media. He goes on to discuss the small-gauge film that was used to film the original movies and the details involved in that format. He then goes on to discuss new media, historiography, and how digital media is understood by its relationship to previous forms. This article is most interesting in the way that it discusses new media as a way to reinterpret obsolete media forms instead of discussing straight format migration.

Steenbakkers, J. F. (2005). Digital archiving in the twenty-first century: Practice at the national library of the Netherlands. Library Trends, 54(1), 33-56.

Steenbakkers, Director of e-Strategy and Property Management at the National Library of the Netherlands, discusses the project there undertaken by said library to address the impact of digital publishing upon libraries and archives. By going digita,l many scientific publications no longer had an established archiving mechanism in place. Often printed paper copies were no longer longer being printed, let alone ingested into a repository for preservation. Thus, data loss was a grave and imminent risk. The author discusses the threats to this digital information such as obsolescence, storage media deterioration, migration and how his library created a plan to deal with the digital publishing boom. The reader will find the portion describing the preservation system created in collaboration with IBM (DIAS), to assist the Library with their preservation efforts most informative.

Thompson, C. C., Robertson, W. D., & Greenberg, J. J. (2014). Where have all the scientific data gone? LIS perspective on the data-at-risk predicament. College & Research Libraries, 75(6), 842-861.

According to the authors, there is a crisis brewing. Scientific data loss is a grave concern that only promises to get worse. This article discusses a survey conducted by the authors in conjunction with the DARI project at UNC’s Metadata Research Center to gauge just where respondent institutions are in terms of their current situation and future preservation plans for at-risk-data. Readers will gain an insight as to what is at risk in terms of format/media characteristics and what some of these institutions are doing about it. Several interesting graphs are presented for the reader to gain a visual idea of what is most in danger and in what scientific field. Readers well documented survey attempt with some interesting results.

Tristram, C. (2002, October 1). Data extinction. In MIT Technology Review.

This article does a good job of explaining the problem of media obsolescence and why it is important to solve the problem of digital file loss. Two of the solutions, migration and emulation, have been mentioned many times in previous articles. There is another solution not mentioned before, encapsulation, which is described as wrapping an electronic file in a digital envelope that explains how to re-create the software, hardware, or operating system required to decode what is inside. The author admits, however, that each of these solutions will only work for a limited amount of time. She proposes a better idea – to preserve the specifications for a decoding mechanism that will allow documents to be deciphered in the future, by archiving them on paper and across the internet.

Van Der Hoeven, J., & Van Wijngaarden, H. (2005, September). Modular emulation as a long-term preservation strategy for digital objects. In 5th International Web Archiving Workshop (IWAW05).

This article examines emulation in its different forms and how they can be beneficial to users in a preservation capacitate. While the article does mention other types of emulation it is primarily focused on the benefits it has in terms of obsolete media, as well as how emulation can be improved upon for the future.

Wiggins, R. W. (2001). Digital preservation: paradox & promise. Library Journal, 126(7), 12-15.

Information Technologist Wiggins writes of the fight to preserve data both now and in the future. He identifies the most common types of digital data demise, including media obsolescence, loss of corporate funding, and content reorganization with the complete erasure of the Clinton Presidential era version of the www.whitehouse.gov website by the Bush Presidency as a prime example. While NARA made an effort to save the site, it was an attempt much too little too late. Wiggins also discusses the paradox of the lowering costs of digital storage media options against the lack of a rise in digital preservation efforts With the lowering costs, content is seen as inexpensive and that which is inexpensive is met with the attitude that this data is unworthy of preservation. In contradiction to this is the increasing need for trained technology and information professionals who can actually complete the preservation tasks. This increases the cost exponentially. Readers will find the discussion addressing some of the main reasons for that lack of a rising digital preservation level informative as the author provides examples of each.