[LINK] Fwd: [padiforum-l] Latest DPC Technology Watch Report - 'PDF should be used to preserve information for the future'.

[Antony Barry]

Linkers

May be of interest. PDF is not my favorite format :-(

Tony

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Carol Jackson" <carol at dpconline.org>
> Date: 24 April 2008 7:00:02 PM
> To: "Carol Jackson" <carol at dpconline.org>
> Subject: [padiforum-l] Latest DPC Technology Watch Report - 'PDF  
> should be used to preserve information for the future'.
> Reply-To: padiforum-l at nla.gov.au
>
> ***Apologies for cross postings***
>  PDF should be used to preserve information for the future
>
> Good news the already popular PDF file format adopted by consumers  
> and business alike is one of the most logical formats to preserve  
> today’s electronic information for tomorrow.
>
> According to the latest report released today by the Digital  
> Preservation Coalition (DPC), Portable Document Format (PDF) is one  
> of the best file formats to preserve electronic documents and  
> ensure their survival for the future.  This announcement will allow  
> information officers to follow a standardised approach for  
> preserving electronic documents.
>
> Information management and long–term preservation are major issues  
> facing consumers and businesses in the 21st Century.  This report  
> is one of a series where The Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC)  
> aims to think about and address the challenges facing us.
>
> This report reviews PDF and the newly introduced PDF/Archive (PDF/ 
> A) format as a potential solution to the problem of long–term  
> digital preservation.  It suggests adopting PDF/A for archiving  
> electronic documents’ as the standard will help preservation and  
> retrieval in the future.  It concludes that it can only be done  
> when combined with a comprehensive records management programme and  
> formally established records procedures.
>
> Betsy Fanning, author of the report and director of standards at  
> AIIM, comments, “A standardised approach to preserving electronic  
> documents would be a welcome development for organisations.   
> Without this we could be walking blindly into a digital black hole.”
>
> The National Archives works closely with the DPC with issues  
> surrounding digital preservation and will continue to do so. Adrian  
> Brown, head of digital preservation at The National Archives said:  
> “This report highlights the challenges we all face in a digital  
> age.  Using PDF/A as a standard will help information officers  
> ensure that key business data survives. But it should never be  
> viewed as the Holy Grail. It is merely a tool in the armoury of a  
> well thought out records management policy. “
>
> The report is a call to action, organisations need to act now and  
> look hard at their information policies and procedures to  
> anticipate the demand for their content (documents and records) in  
> the future.  Everybody has different criteria, types and uses for  
> documentation so you need to find one that works for your  
> organisation.
>
> If you would like to read the full report please go to the Digital  
> Preservation Coalition website.  This can be accessed  
> here:www.dpconline.org/graphics/reports/index.html#twr0802
>
> For further information about:
> ·         The National Archives please contact, Tim Matthews,  
> tim.matthews at nationalarchives.gov.uk, or 020 8392 5277.
> ·         Digital Preservation Coalition please contact Frances  
> Boyle, fb at dpconline.org or 01904 435 320
> About The Digital Preservation Coalition  (DPC)
> The Digital Preservation Coalition  (DPC) is a cross-sector member  
> organisation established in 2001 to foster joint action to address  
> the urgent challenges of securing the preservation of digital  
> resources in the UK and to work with others internationally
>
> For further information, see www.dpconline.org
>   
> ********************************************************************** 
> *************************************************************
> Carol Jackson
> Administration and Events Manager
> Digital Preservation Coalition
> Innovation Centre
> York Science Park
> Heslington
> YO10 5DG
>
> e-mail: carol at dpconline.org
> tel: +44 (0) 1904 435 362
> https: www.dpconline.org
>
>

phone : 02 6241 7659  | mailto:tony at Tony-Barry.emu.id.au
mobile: 04 3365 2400  | mailto:tony.barry at alianet.alia.org.au
http://tony-barry.emu.id.au