Digital Preservation Coalition - Handbook - Decision Tree

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Interactive Assessment: Documentation of Digital Materials for Long-term Retention

Selection > Rights & Responsibilities > Technical / Costs > Documentation & Metadata / Costs

Documentation & Metadata

Documentation 1

Has sufficient documentation been supplied (including metadata)?

See: 4.4 Metadata and Documentation - opens in a new window

You answered Yes to Documentation 1 and thus reached a natural end to the Decision Tree. The following advice is based on your answers to the questions.

Advice

Acquire the resource for long-term preservation.

For further help in developing a policy on selection of digital materials for long-term preservation please go to Guidance

Documentation & Metadata

Documentation 2

Can you negotiate for the source to supply the required documentation?

You answered No to Documentation 1 - please answer Documentation 2

Consider development of guidelines. See “Information on depositing digital resources with the AHDS”, April 2004,
http://www.ahds.ac.uk/depositing/index.htm for an introduction to suggested best practice, including the “AHDS Data and Documentation Transfer Form”, November 2003,
http://www.ahds.ac.uk/depositing/how-to-deposit.htm

You answered Yes to Documentation 2 and thus reached a natural end to the Decision Tree. The following advice is based on your answers to the questions.

Advice

Acquire the resource for long-term preservation.

For further help in developing a policy on selection of digital materials for long-term preservation please go to Guidance

Documentation & Metadata

Documentation 3

Is it technically feasible for you to construct the required documentation?

You answered No to Documentation 2 - Please answer Documentation 3

Documentation & Metadata

Costs 5

Can you commit adequate staff resources to construct the required documentation?

You answered Yes to Documentation 3 - Please answer Costs 5

See: 2.1 Strategic Overview: How much does it cost? - opens in a new window

You answered Yes to Costs 5 and thus reached a natural end to the Decision Tree. The following advice is based on your answers to the questions.

Advice

Acquire the resource for long-term preservation.

For further help in developing a policy on selection of digital materials for long-term preservation please go to Guidance

Documentation & Metadata

Documentation 4

Is the material so valuable that you will accept it without adequate documentation?

You answered No to Costs 5 - Please answer Documentation 4

You answered No to Documentation 3 - Please answer Documentation 4

You answered No to Documentation 4 and thus reached a natural end to the Decision Tree. The following advice is based on your answers to the questions.

Advice

Acquire the resource but document that long-term preservation may not be feasible.

For further help in developing a policy on selection of digital materials for long-term preservation please go to Guidance

You answered Yes to Documentation 4 and thus reached a natural end to the Decision Tree. The following advice is based on your answers to the questions.

Advice

Acquire the resource for long-term preservation.

For further help in developing a policy on selection of digital materials for long-term preservation please go to Guidance