A Prototype for Preservation and Harvesting of International ETDs using LOCKSS and OAI-PMH

Abstract Students, faculty, researchers, and administrators desire, and in some cases require, that ETDs be preserved and made accessible for long periods of time, often 50 years or more, with the goal of support for the very long term. Part of the challenge of digital data preservation is for the “bits to be preserved”, in spite of problems with infrastructure or disaster. Toward that end, the LOCKSS software (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe, http://lockss.stanford.edu/) supports replication, distribution, and reliable preservation of content. Since 2002, discussions have been underway regarding the use of LOCKSS in connection with NDLTD. The following six universities • Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil • Humboldt-Universitat, Germany • University of Cape Town, South Africa • Florida State University, USA • Georgia Tech, USA • Virginia Tech, USA are collaborating to demonstrate the functionality of the LOCKSS and OAI-PMH for international preservation of ETDs. This report describes in detail the implementation for preservation and harvesting of International ETDs using LOCKSS tool. An analysis of the test results is also presented.