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 1Help

Has sufficient documentation been supplied (including metadata)?

See: 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.

Documentation & Metadata

Documentation 2Help

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

Yes
See Advice

You answered No to Documentation 1 - please answer Documentation 2

Consider development of guidelines. See: Metadata and Documentation - opens in a new window

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.

Documentation & Metadata

Documentation 3

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

Yes

You answered No to Documentation 2 - Please answer Documentation 3

Documentation & Metadata

Costs 5Help

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

Yes
See Advice

You answered Yes to Documentation 3 - Please answer Costs 5

See: Metadata and Documentation and Business cases, benefits, costs, and impact - both open 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.

Documentation & Metadata

Documentation 4

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

Yes
See Advice

No
See Advice

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

Either do not acquire or if you acquire, document that long term preservation may not be feasible.

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.

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