Digital Preservation Then and Now: Reflecting on Ten+ Years Studying the Field

The study and practice of digital preservation has changed dramatically since the first iPRES conference in 2004. A relatively young field with practitioners and researchers setting research agendas and finding their way, digital preservation increasingly has been considered an essential aspect of work in the information professions – with substantial input from the fields of libraries, archives, and museums. This poster is intended for both new and seasoned researchers and practitioners interested in reflecting on the changes in the field, focusing on 2012 to the present day; it can serve as a benchmark as the field looks to the future. Participants will explore perspectives on changes in digital preservation over the past 10+ years and their implications for current and future practice.

In 2014, the first edition of Digital Preservation for Libraries, Archives, and Museums was published, following two years of research and writing. A second edition was researched in 2015-16. As writing is completed in 2023-24 on the third edition, this poster reflects on eight major changes in thinking about digital preservation that we have observed: 1) Technology/Systems; 2) Standards and “best practices”; 3) Environmental sustainability; 4) Funding and financial; 5) Supporting marginalized communities: 6) Community, collaboration, and consortial models; 7) Research; 8) Training and education. This poster will focus on these eight topics; as described below. We will be using graphical means when possible to present these ideas and to explore potential implications.