Evaluation of the preservation strategies used by New Zealand libraries for natively digital objects of heritage value

Abstract

ongoing preservation of natively digital objects held in physical form. The Alexander Turnbull Library was selected as the subject of a case study: as the central heritage library in New Zealand it mirrors published heritage collections held elsewhere, and is most likely to have engaged in proactive preservation activity. Published digital collections were assessed for their suitability for data migration, emulation and format preservation. With these collections predominantly consisting of audiovisual materials, format preservation through virtualisation ofbitstrearns, with a long view toward eventual emulation was determined the optimal strategy for the bulk of the collection. Current and emergent preservation activities undertaken by the National Library were considered consistent with this. This study drew its theoretical framework from the view that long term digital preservation requires structured institutional strategies rather than ad-hoc responses (Hedstrom, 1998), and proposed that the development ofthe National Digital Heritage Archive provides opportunity to develop a long term strategy to preserve functionality of heritage digital objects.