Course content

The course delves into the challenges of the preservation and reuse of digital records and how authenticity, reliability, integrity and usability can be secured for digital records over time. What are the characteristics of the IT systems and what methods and technologies are most suitable? A key challenge in the long-term preservation of digital information is related to migrations from large IT systems to descendant solutions. The course goes further into issues around intentional and unintentional loss of information in long-term preservation, what kind of documentation you need to have about predecessor solutions, evidence-chain problems and solutions. The course also discusses the requirements for organization and management of institutions that are to conduct long-term conservation on behalf of themselves and others. The course further develops knowledge from the courses LBAS2004 Digital Repository and LBAS1004 Digital Competence for Records Management in the bachelor's program in Archives, Museums and Records Management (BAMD).

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The student has:

• advanced knowledge about current methods for long-term preservation of digital records
• thorough knowledge about weaknesses and strengths related to the different methods for the long-term preservation of records
• knowledge about different international approaches to digital preservation, and how different legal traditions and understanding of important terms and issues in the records management field influence what methods that can and are used for digital preservation.
• advanced knowledge about challenges related to the properties of records and how these change over time, and how the methods chosen for long-term preservation influence and is influenced by the records user community or group

Skills

The student can:

• do a qualified evaluation of the most suitable methods for the long-term preservation of records
• do a quality assessment and discover weaknesses of plans and governing documents that are created when establishing services for digital preservation
• establish an overview of all activities that needs to be done to ensure that the content of a system is preserved in such a way that its authenticity, reliability, integrity and usability are safeguarded.

General knowledge

The student:

• can participate in a substantial degree in establishing and having responsibility for the running of a service for long-term preservation of digital records, either as a part of a large organization or being the responsible for long-term preservation in a municipality or smaller organization

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, seminars and group work. This takes place primarily on campus, but arrangements are made for digital participation (in real time).

Compulsory activities/assignments

Written assignment

Compulsory assignments

• Qualification essay

Recommended previous knowledge

LBAS1002, LBAS1004, LBAS2004

Course materials

The course reading list and course plan will be published on NTNU's digital learning platform (Blackboard) at the beginning of term. Minor changes to the list may occur during term. Students are obliged to keep informed and up-to-date on all information from teachers via the learning platform and NTNU e-mails.