Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe as a Cooperative Archiving Solution for E-Journals

Abstract

The LOCKSS model, based on analysis of the history of cultural continuity epitomized by "Lots of Copies Keeps Stuff Safe," creates low-cost, persistent digital "caches" of e-journal content housed locally at institutions that have authorized access to that content and actively choose to preserve it. Accuracy and completeness of LOCKSS caches is assured through a peer-to-peer polling system (operated through LCAP, LOCKSS' communication protocol), which is both robust and secure. The creation of such caches, given the requirement that the caching library already have the right through subscription to obtain that content, has met with a high degree of publisher and library engagement and commitment. Through its technical development and beta-1 testing (1999-2002) (Permanent publishing n.d.), the LOCKSS project has demonstrated that its model and protocol are technically viable. We are working to build production software and to establish the LOCKSS model as an ongoing, operating archival solution. Support for LOCKSS has been generously provided by the National Science Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Sun Microsystems, and others*.

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