Analysis of 2 digitization programs

1) Library of Congress: National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program:

http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/library/program_back.html
once on this page, click on the link Preserving Our Digital Heritage: Plan for the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program
Reading the "Executive Summary" section of the document should be sufficient to get enough information.

2) British Library Digital Preservation Strategy:

www.bl.uk/aboutus/stratpolprog/ccare/introduction/digital/digpresstrat.pdf

Both documents are very complex and cover a broad spectrum of issues. The documents are structured in different ways: the British Library strategy document is written in bullet points, like a brief business agenda document. In the end there is a table that juxtaposes possible risks to digital material with appropriate actions taken as a part of the British Library digitization program. This section of the document is helpful in summarizing the main points of the program and embedding these points in the reader's memory.

The document published at the beginning of the LOC digitization program is a whole brochure, which is written in a narrative style of a grant proposal. This document was published in the very beginning of the digitization program and it outlines what the program will do in the long term future.

Aside from differences in style and format, there are many key points that cross over from one digitization program to the other. Here are some of the shared points for both programs.

1) Selection of appropriate materials to be digitized.
Both plans talk about the importance of prioritizing what gets digitized based on demand of collections for public access and ease of digitizing a particular format.

2) Communication with software vendors and technology specialists.
Gaining knowledge from the industry about proprietary file formats and new ways of preserving/migrating data.

3) Saving digital objects in several locations.
Safeguarding against loss of information caused by disc failure.

4) Saving the relevant incarnations of the file.
Making sure that the digital files that are being preserved can be considered preservation maters.

5) Automating preservation preservation procedures.
To make the preservation programs more cost effective, as many functions as possible should be automated. Automated actions can be guided by reminders that are based one: tracking the last time a file was updated, the kind of file it is and the inherent longevity properties of that file.

6) Long term retention as a priority.
Both programs, but especially LOC, makes long term retention a priority. Reassessment and evaluation of criteria for retention is built into the process of preservation.

Some differences
The LOC digitization initiative document had in it a few points that were not detailed in the British Library strategic digitization plan. As a part of the national digitization initiative, the Library of Congress would work with other federal agencies, state governments and private entities in a comprehensive program, in which it would funciton as a leader. The digitization strategy is not limited to the collections housed at the Library of Congress, but is extended to relevant cultural heritage material across the United States. The Library of Congress document also stresses the importance of rights protected access to the public. The manner of public access the issue of copyright law is a major consideration for this program.