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Digital Preservation

The Library of Congress > Digital Preservation > Partners > Persistent Digital Archives and Library System (PeDALS) Project

Persistent Digital Archives and Library System (PeDALS) Project

Lead Partner: Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records
Additional Partners: Alabama Department of Archives and History, State Library and Archives of Florida, New Mexico Commission of Public Records State Records Center and Archives, New York State Archives, New York State Library, South Carolina State Library, South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Wisconsin Historical Society

The goal of PeDALS is to develop a shared curatorial framework for the preservation of digital public records such as agency publications and court records. At the same time, the project will test computer software (often called "middleware") that connects software components and applications in order to automate digital preservation workflows. They will ultimately explore housing the records in inexpensive "digital stacks" that can preserve the authenticity and integrity of the collections.

Objectives

  • Develop a curatorial rationale to support an automated, integrated workflow to process collections of digital publications and records.
  • Implement "digital stacks" using an inexpensive, storage network that can preserve the authenticity and integrity of the collections.
  • Build a community of shared practice so that the system meets the needs of a wide range of repositories that could then support the ongoing development of the system and promote best practices.
  • Remove barriers to adopting the technology by keeping costs as low as possible.

More detailed project information can be found at the Project Web site (external link)

Highlights

Persistent Digital Archives & Library SErvices