Keeping it simple: the Alabama Digital Preservation Network (ADPNet)

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a brief overview of the current state of distributed digital preservation (DDP) networks in North America and to provide a detailed technical, administrative, and financial description of a working, self‐supporting DDP network: the Alabama Digital Preservation Network (ADPNet). Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews current regional and national initiatives in the field of digital preservation using a variety of sources and considers ADPNet in the context of generally accepted requirements for a robust DDP network. The authors view ADPNet in a comparative perspective with other Private LOCKSS Networks (PLNs) and argue that the Alabama model represents a promising approach to DDP for other states and consortia. Findings The paper finds that cultural memory organizations in a number of countries have identified digital preservation as a critical issue and are crafting strategies to address it, with DDP‐based solutions gaining in popularity in North America. It also identifies an array of technical, administrative, and financial challenges that DDP networks must resolve in order to be viable in the long term. Practical implications The paper describes a working model for building a low‐cost but robust DDP network. Originality/value The paper is one of the first comprehensive descriptions of a working, self‐sustaining DDP network.

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