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

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

 

Selection of Content and Version
Selection 1

Does the content of this resource fall within the institutional remit/collection development policy?

YES
Go to S4

NO
Go to S2

Selection of Content and Version
Selection 2

Does assessment of long term value justify preservation?

YES
Go to S4

NO
Go to S3

Help with Selection 2

Decisions on long-term value will include consideration of the following:

  • Is there a legal requirement associated with the material?
  • Is the material of high value to your institutions’ business/mission?
  • Is the information content of high quality?
  • Do you have or can you negotiate acceptable access arrangements?
  • Could it reasonably be considered to be an important example of its type?
  • Is it likely to be required for future research?

Answering 'yes' to one or more of the above questions should automatically mean selection for long-term preservation if no one else has accepted preservation responsibility.

Selection of Content and Version
Selection 3

Do you need to acquire for other purposes, e.g. reference?

YES
See Advice Two

NO
See Advice One

Advice One: Don't acquire.

Advice Two: Acquire for use but not preservation.

For further help in developing a policy on selection of digital materials for long-term preservation please go to Guidance
Selection of Content and Version
Selection 4

Does the resource exist in multiple media formats (e.g. print and digital)?

YES
Go to S5

NO
Proceed to Next Section
Selection of Content and Version
Selection 5

Should the digital version be selected for preservation?

YES
Proceed to next section

NO
See Advice Two

Advice Two: Acquire for use but not preservation.

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

Help with Selection 5

Decisions will include consideration of the following factors:

  • Predicted preferred format of users;
  • Technical considerations regarding ease of use and ability to maintain over time;
  • Whether the resource is required short-term only;
  • Whether there are significant variations between formats for them to be considered different versions.
  • Whether functionality of one version offers greater scope for use.

 

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