NISO Unveils New Standard for Digital Preservation: What It Means for Libraries and Archives

niso Unveils New Standard for Digital Preservation: What It Means for Libraries and Archives

The National Information Standards Organization (NISO) has recently released a new standard for digital preservation, aimed at helping libraries, archives, and other cultural institutions ensure the long-term accessibility and usability of digital content. The standard, known as niso RP-27-2022: Digital Preservation Trustworthy Repositories Audit & Certification (TRAC), provides a framework for evaluating and verifying the trustworthiness of digital repositories, ensuring that valuable digital assets are preserved for future generations.

Digital preservation is a critical issue for libraries and archives, as the rapid pace of technological change and the inherent fragility of digital media pose significant risks to the long-term accessibility of digital content. Without proper preservation measures, digital materials may become lost, corrupted, or inaccessible, resulting in the loss of cultural heritage, historical records, and valuable research data.

niso RP-27-2022: Digital Preservation TRAC is designed to address these concerns by establishing a set of criteria for evaluating the trustworthiness of digital repositories. The standard provides a comprehensive framework for assessing the technical, organizational, and procedural safeguards in place to ensure the long-term preservation of digital content.

The standard focuses on five key areas:

1. Repository Organization: The standard assesses the organizational structure and policies in place to ensure the repository’s ability to meet its preservation responsibilities.
2. Technical Infrastructure: The standard evaluates the technical infrastructure and systems in place to support the repository’s preservation activities, including storage, backup, and recovery procedures.
3. Digital Object Management: The standard examines the repository’s processes for managing digital objects, including ingest, cataloging, and metadata creation.
4. Digital Preservation Planning: The standard assesses the repository’s preservation planning and strategy, including the identification of formats, migration plans, and data backup procedures.
5. Audit and Monitoring: The standard evaluates the repository’s audit and monitoring processes, including regular audits, reporting, and assessment of preservation activities.

The benefits of niso RP-27-2022: Digital Preservation TRAC are numerous. By implementing this standard, libraries and archives can:

• Ensure the long-term accessibility and usability of digital content
• Maintain the integrity and authenticity of digital materials
• Provide confidence to stakeholders, including researchers, scholars, and the public
• Enhance their reputation as trustworthy custodians of cultural and historical records
• Support the preservation of valuable research data and intellectual property

To support the implementation of this standard, niso has developed a range of resources, including a Self-Assessment Checklist, a TRAC Audit Guide, and a set of tutorials and webinars. These resources will help libraries and archives navigate the standard and develop their own digital preservation strategies.

In conclusion, niso RP-27-2022: Digital Preservation TRAC is a significant milestone in the field of digital preservation, providing a trusted framework for evaluating and verifying the trustworthiness of digital repositories. By adopting this standard, libraries and archives can ensure the long-term preservation of digital content, maintain the integrity of cultural and historical records, and support the advancement of knowledge and research.