Book Review: Practical Digital Preservation: A How-To Guide for Organizations of Any Size

Practical Digital Preservation: A How-To Guide for Organizations of Any Size. By Adrian Brown. Chicago: Neal-Schuman, 2013. 336 p. $75 softcover (ISBN: 978-1-55570-942-6). Practical Digital Preservation: A How-To Guide for Organizations of Any Size provides detailed information about and helpful strategies for tackling the robust and evolving world of digital preservation. The author defines digital preservation as "the process of maintaining a digital object for as long as required, in a form which is authentic, and accessible to users" (xii). The book is divided into ten chapters and includes a glossary of terms, appendixes, bibliography, and index. The first chapter includes some practical information regarding appropriate audience, use of the book, minimum requirements for embarking on digital preservation, myths about digital preservation, a comprehensive survey covering the history of digital preservation, and some helpful hints about terminology. In chapter 2, the author outlines strategies for building a digital preservation program and for handling challenges such as limited staffing, resources, technical infrastructure, and knowledge of project management. He argues that the first step should be securing recognition from administrators that digital preservation is important to the success of the organization. The author helps the reader in this regard by focusing this chapter on creating an effective business plan for digital preservation. Moreover, the author includes methods for discussing the financial and nonfinancial benefits of adopting and embracing a digital preservation plan. Creating a digital preservation policy and knowing the essential components therewith can be a powerful means of securing support from administrators and colleagues. Chapter 3 provides a needs assessment for creating a well-documented, sustainable, and successful digital preservation program. The chapter focuses on the best way to develop a set of requirements, communicate with stakeholders to secure support and contribution to the program, examine other business plans and policies, and build on what the organization is already doing. Additionally, the author includes detailed information on how established requirements should be articulated and documented. The last part of the chapter highlights the application of established requirements and the best way to create an actual digital preservation program. The fourth chapter includes many useful case studies that outline approaches to creating and implementing a digital preservation program. A range of possible options are discussed in this chapter, from in-house solutions to outsourcing; in addition the author describes why certain models are better suited to particular organizations. If an organization has already chosen an approach, this chapter would be useful to consult as it assesses the implementation process as well as the practicalities of managing a digital preservation service. Finally, the author provides information on the best way to develop a realistic roadmap to bring a digital preservation program to its optimum level of service and capacity in the future. Chapters 5 and 6 focus on the two stages of acquiring digital content for repositories. The author describes stage one in chapter 5: "The institution makes a decision to acquire a specific collection of material, undertakes any preparatory activities, and performs the physical transfer of that material into its custody" (109). …