on optical media.

16.16 Case study 2

A record archive documenting government business transactions goes to great effort
to certify the authenticity of every record it stores. All records scanned from non-
digital originals include a signed statement attesting that they are true copies; digital
records captured from electronic record keeping systems include system-generated
verification checks. All processes that could bring about unintended or unauthorised
changes are documented in preservation metadata attached to the record.

A regional library collecting digital publications uses quality control checking to

ensure that the files it captures match the copy remaining on the publishers site. It
documents the processes it applies to the material, and controls any significant threats
to data integrity, but it accepts that some processes will lead to items that differ from
their original appearance when re-presented in the future. It is unable to certify that
the copies it presents are authentic, but claims its processes provide a reasonable basis
for accepting them as archived, managed copies for research purposes.

REFERENCES where to look for more information

Cross references
Relationship between data and presented digital objects also see Understanding
digital preservation: chapter 7
Offsite references (all links viewed march 2003)
Some interesting views on authenticity can be found in:
Gladney Henry M, Digital Document Quarterly.
http://home.pacbell.net/hgladney/ddq.htm
Graham Peter S, (2000). Authenticity in a Digital Environment, Council on Library
and Information Resources. http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/graham/intpres.html
InterPARES Project (2002). The Long-term Preservation of Authentic Electronic
Records: Findings of the InterPARES Project.
http://www.interpares.org/book/index.htm
Technical information on data storage devices can be located through:
Bogart, John Van. (1995). Magnetic Tape Storage and Handling: A Guide for
Libraries and Archives Council on Library and Information Resources, Washington,
DC. http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub54/index.html
CoOL [Conservation OnLine]: electronic storage media.
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/bytopic/electronic -records/electronic -storage-media/
Kodak Professional (nd). Permanence and Handling of CDs.
http://kodak.com/global/en/professional/products/storage/pcd/techInfo/permanence.jh
tml
Library of Congress (rev ed 2002). Cylinder, Disc and Tape Care in a Nutshell.
http://www.loc.gov/preserv/care/record.html

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