A Metadata Approach to Digital Preservation

Abstract

Selection and metadata issues which surround the preservation of digital information are discussed, in particular, the assignment of "collection levels" to Web materials to ensure preservation, and some Preservation Metadata Element Sets (PMES) which have been identified as informed by the Open Archival Information System (OAIS) Reference Model. A metadata framework that can support a broad range of digital preservation activities-a Core PMES-is proposed, together with a general criteria based on "collection levels" to express preservation decision and responsibility for the resource at the time of selection.