Introduction to the course, questions to be addressed, assignments.

Film

Into the Future: On the Preservation of Knowledge in the Electronic Age

Readings

Ensuring the Longevity of Digital Information by Jeff Rothenberg. In this article, Jeff Rothenberg discusses the fragile nature of digitally recorded information and the numerous factors, technological and otherwise, that must be addressed if we are to ensure the continued accessibility of this information over time. The article is an expanded version of the article "Ensuring the Longevity of Digital Documents" that appeared in the January 1995 edition of Scientific American (Vol. 272, Number 1, pp.42-7). This file is in .pdf format.

Preserving Digital Information Report of the Task Force on Archiving of Digital Information. 1996.

Avoiding Technological Quicksand: Finding a Viable Technical Foundation for Digital Preservation Rothenberg, Jeff

Preserving our National Heritage Plan for the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program. Library of Congress

It's About Time: Research Challenges in Digital Archiving and Long-term Preservation National Science Foundation and Library of Congress. 2003.