62 · Survey Results: Survey Questions and Responses
Amount of storage: We have purchased additional disk space. File type/migration: We are in the process of creating a
digital preservation policy to limit file types we will manage/migrate. Security: We have developed project teams with
limited levels of access, depending on need.
Cost. Distributed storage sites. Long-term storage and access.
Dark archives storage is less of a preservation environment than the platform for access copies. Storage issues are
further exacerbated by a lack of central IT understanding of digital preservation requirements. The previously mentioned
inventory is the start in a process to get a better handle on storage capacity and digital preservation tool needs. Further,
the Libraries have identified the need to develop a digital preservation policy/plan. Staff time and skills to actively ingest,
process, and manage born-digital objects. The creation of the e-records/digital resources archivist position is one step in
the process. Additionally, curators and curatorial staff are seeking appropriate training opportunities.
Data loss: Moved toward more stable hardware and regularized review. Technical skills: Hiring consultants as well as
using combination of library and parent IT.
Disconnect between archival masters, metadata, and access derivatives. Previously these have been in separate
systems or in a simple file system. We are implementing a Fedora-based repository service to centralize storage and
management of ALL digital materials. Managing rights and access to restricted content. We are working with university
IT to implement Shibboleth identity management as one approach to solve this problem. Determining the long-term cost
of storing digital content in perpetuity. We are examining pay-once-store-forever vs. subscription management models.
Funding and skills to manage a true digital archive. Amount of storage required.
Having enough storage so that we don’t run out during a project. Getting an appropriate system in place for off-site,
secure back up. Cost of storage.
High cost of preservation storage infrastructure. This has been addressed for the present by reallocating funds from
other parts of the Libraries budget to purchase storage. When feasible we add a one-time storage fee to grant-
supported projects. Bandwidth costs. Because of bandwidth costs, we have selected remote storage options that are
available via subsidized carriers like NYSERNET or Internet2. These storage options are not necessarily the most cost-
effective, however. Changing storage technologies, manufacturer, and vendor churn. We have approached the problem
of vendor churn and changing technologies by assuming a rolling five-year model for hardware replacement, assuming
that we may have to keep changing vendors and equipment.
I have been delaying moving digital video from media to server space because of the massive file sizes. We also have
issues ripping video from certain access formats. I am still requesting MPEG-2 for film/video preservation since it is
compressed don’t have time to evaluate sustainability of other formats that might enable increased quality.
In terms of personal materials we have had issues related to ease of access and managing storage. But all of these are
potential issues since our current system for personal materials is sketchy.
Insufficient staffing. We continue to explore options within the context of library-wide staffing issues. Long-term
storage and access. We continue to work with library IT and university IT. The actual amount of storage needed. We
continue to work with library IT and university IT.
Justifying the need for and the resources required for storing multiple copies of large original/master files, in multiple
locations, and preserved on an ongoing basis. Affordable, geographically distributed storage. We are evaluating options
to distribute storage of our digital materials, mitigating the risks associated with a single location for storage. Costs
of large-scale storage. We are reexamining our business models for the storage of digital collections and investigating
partnerships that will make it easier for us to manage storage.
Amount of storage: We have purchased additional disk space. File type/migration: We are in the process of creating a
digital preservation policy to limit file types we will manage/migrate. Security: We have developed project teams with
limited levels of access, depending on need.
Cost. Distributed storage sites. Long-term storage and access.
Dark archives storage is less of a preservation environment than the platform for access copies. Storage issues are
further exacerbated by a lack of central IT understanding of digital preservation requirements. The previously mentioned
inventory is the start in a process to get a better handle on storage capacity and digital preservation tool needs. Further,
the Libraries have identified the need to develop a digital preservation policy/plan. Staff time and skills to actively ingest,
process, and manage born-digital objects. The creation of the e-records/digital resources archivist position is one step in
the process. Additionally, curators and curatorial staff are seeking appropriate training opportunities.
Data loss: Moved toward more stable hardware and regularized review. Technical skills: Hiring consultants as well as
using combination of library and parent IT.
Disconnect between archival masters, metadata, and access derivatives. Previously these have been in separate
systems or in a simple file system. We are implementing a Fedora-based repository service to centralize storage and
management of ALL digital materials. Managing rights and access to restricted content. We are working with university
IT to implement Shibboleth identity management as one approach to solve this problem. Determining the long-term cost
of storing digital content in perpetuity. We are examining pay-once-store-forever vs. subscription management models.
Funding and skills to manage a true digital archive. Amount of storage required.
Having enough storage so that we don’t run out during a project. Getting an appropriate system in place for off-site,
secure back up. Cost of storage.
High cost of preservation storage infrastructure. This has been addressed for the present by reallocating funds from
other parts of the Libraries budget to purchase storage. When feasible we add a one-time storage fee to grant-
supported projects. Bandwidth costs. Because of bandwidth costs, we have selected remote storage options that are
available via subsidized carriers like NYSERNET or Internet2. These storage options are not necessarily the most cost-
effective, however. Changing storage technologies, manufacturer, and vendor churn. We have approached the problem
of vendor churn and changing technologies by assuming a rolling five-year model for hardware replacement, assuming
that we may have to keep changing vendors and equipment.
I have been delaying moving digital video from media to server space because of the massive file sizes. We also have
issues ripping video from certain access formats. I am still requesting MPEG-2 for film/video preservation since it is
compressed don’t have time to evaluate sustainability of other formats that might enable increased quality.
In terms of personal materials we have had issues related to ease of access and managing storage. But all of these are
potential issues since our current system for personal materials is sketchy.
Insufficient staffing. We continue to explore options within the context of library-wide staffing issues. Long-term
storage and access. We continue to work with library IT and university IT. The actual amount of storage needed. We
continue to work with library IT and university IT.
Justifying the need for and the resources required for storing multiple copies of large original/master files, in multiple
locations, and preserved on an ongoing basis. Affordable, geographically distributed storage. We are evaluating options
to distribute storage of our digital materials, mitigating the risks associated with a single location for storage. Costs
of large-scale storage. We are reexamining our business models for the storage of digital collections and investigating
partnerships that will make it easier for us to manage storage.