Who guards the guards: meeting the challenges of digital preservation

Abstract

This paper discusses the importance of preserving digital knowledge over a period of time, the challenges, priorities and the various principles and strategies for long term preservation. It draws on a risk management framework, using the analogy of ‘who guards the guards’ to explore the implications of dangers, the roles of those who safeguard digital content, and various strategies – technological, resourcing and organizational – for mitigating risks over a period of time. Three key strategies potentially have the capacity to profoundly influence the survival of digital knowledge into the future: collaboration and alliances, risk management and quality assurance, and education and training.