National Archives of Scotland

Excerpt from DPC Annual Report 2008-2009

The National Archives of Scotland (NAS) programme to develop its secure, trusted digital repository – the Digital Data Archive (DDA) – has been completed. Functional operation of the ingest procedures will start in October 2009. A browser-based application using .net and SQL Server, DDA incorporates the authenticity requirements of the ‘BIP 0008’ Code of practice for legal admissibility and evidential weight of information stored electronically. The first digital data to be ingested will probably be born-digital images from the Sasine Register (the Scottish register of land) produced by Registers of Scotland. NAS is developing a policy for ingest which will help to assess the viability of electronic records already held.

Advances in digital preservation technology can frequently outstrip the law, and reveal shortcomings with it. As legal registers change format and are produced exclusively in born digital formats, new statutory definitions may be required. NAS has been involved in discussions about whether we need new legislation to deal with these changes, or whether, as happened in the past, the changes can be simply introduced as part of wider powers of Government office holders.

On 5 February 2009, NAS launched The Scottish Register of Tartans to promote and preserve information about registered tartans. Tartan, known throughout the world as a national symbol of Scotland, has been officially recognised by the Parliament in Edinburgh with the passage of the Scottish Register of Tartans Act, 2009. The Register is maintained by the NAS as a national repository of tartan designs, and acts as the official point of registration for all current and future designs. Each tartan is recorded digitally, as well as descriptively, thus ensuring the uniqueness of each design and accurately recording the sett (pattern) via online images.