Creating a Framework for Applying OAIS to Distributed Digital Preservation

This poster describes the creation of a framework that addresses the challenges in applying the Reference Model for an Open Archival Information System (OAIS) to the Distributed Digital Preservation (DDP) environment. The purpose of this initiative is to identify, define, and provide a documented framework for the range of technical and organizational relationships and interactions that occur in DDP environments. A white paper regarding this work was recently written, and the aim of this poster is to inform the the broader digital preservation community of developers, designers, architects, archival managers, users and auditors about the work and ask for any relevant input that can contribute to the creation of this framework.
The primary motivation for this work is that the first generation of DDP systems and approaches has emphasized the importance of such factors as content replication, independence through geographic distribution, and coordination e.g. through infrastructure heterogeneity and organizational diversity for ensuring the longevity of digital objects. Worldwide, digital preservation initiatives are engaging in highly distributed methodologies, infrastructures, and organizational apparatuses in order to achieve the reliable persistence of digital content.
Although the use of distribution is common within the preservation field, there is not yet an accepted definition for “distributed digital preservation”. As the preservation field has matured, the term “distributed digital preservation” has been applied to myriad preservation approaches. In the white paper we define DDP as the use of replication, independence, and coordination to address the known threats to digital content through time to ensure their accessibility.
The preservation field relies heavily upon an international standard, the Reference Model for an Open Archival Information System (OAIS) to provide theoretical and abstract models/vocabulary for archival repositories. This OAIS standard provides the foundation for the Framework this initiative intends to develop. The Framework will elaborate upon the OAIS model to define the methodology and structure of the actions undertaken in organizationally and/or physically distributed archives.

The Educopia Institute, the Royal Library of Denmark, the Library of Congress, Chronopolis, DuraSpace Foundation, MetaArchive Cooperative, LOCKSS, Data-PASS, California Digital Library, Internet Archive, and Archivematica are developing a framework that identifies, defines, and provides a documented model for the range of relationships and interactions that occur in Distributed Digital Preservation (DDP) environments. This effort seeks to:
1. Provide a set of concepts and terminology to help build a common understanding of distributed preservation practices;
2. Describe scenarios for the placement of the components of an OAIS functional entity across distributed environments, including those that entail the coordination/collaboration of multiple organizations; and
3. Describe the roles and responsibilities at institutions that are replicating and preserving digital information in geographically and/or organizationally distributed environments.
The poster will highlight the contents of the white paper, specifically providing context regarding the need for this endeavor, delineating the various trends and practices that compel an elaboration upon OAIS, identifying the challenges ahead for advancing this endeavor, and putting forward a series of recommendations for making progress toward developing a formal framework for a DDP environment.