Structured Data Formats through Linked Open Data
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has unveiled a new preservation plan, specifically designed to systematically manage and preserve digital records in the form of structured data. Known as the Structured Data: Generic Preservation Plan, this initiative aims to ensure the long-term sustainability and accessibility of digital records by defining clear approaches and actions for their preservation.
The plan encompasses a wide range of file formats found in NARA holdings, including the Extensible Markup Language (XML) in various versions, JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), Mathematica Computable Document Format, the Extensible Metadata Platform, HLM Multivariate Data Matrix Format, Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code (EBCDIC), and the Comma Separated Values format. Each of these formats is categorized under Structured Data.
It's important to note that these plans are not recommendations or endorsements of specific tools but rather a guide to help manage and preserve digital records effectively. The plan evaluates file formats based on criteria such as openness, adoption by memory institutions, stability, compatibility, and external dependencies, aligning with international good practices in digital preservation.
The plan is not exhaustive or universally applicable, but it provides a valuable framework for selecting and managing file formats within archival holdings like those at NARA. This way, preservation efforts can maintain the usability and accessibility of digital content despite technological changes.
While a "Structured Data: Generic Preservation Plan" specific to NARA is not explicitly described in the search results, the principles outlined in the Canadian Guidelines on File Formats for Transfer offer insight into how such a plan might function. These guidelines ensure the acquisition of sustainable formats and maintain long-term access, which mirrors NARA's mission to preserve records according to retention policies and standards.
Moreover, NARA's records retention policies require compliance with regulations and risk management processes to determine how long records, potentially including different file format variants, must be preserved. This compliance further reinforces the importance of the Structured Data: Generic Preservation Plan.
In summary, the Structured Data: Generic Preservation Plan serves as a valuable resource for identifying and preserving file formats and their variants that are deemed sustainable and accessible, ensuring the digital preservation of NARA holdings over time in accordance with regulatory and archival standards.
[1] Canadian Guidelines on File Formats for Transfer [2] NARA Records Retention Policies [3] NARA Risk Management Processes
- The Structured Data: Generic Preservation Plan, developed by NARA, leverages technology like data-and-cloud-computing to manage and preserve digital records, particularly in forms of structured data.
- The plan, aligned with international good practices in digital preservation, evaluates file formats based on criteria such as technology adoption, stability, compatibility, and openness, demonstrating the interplay between technology and the preservation of digital records.
