Toward Developing a Framework of Cost Elements for Preserving Authentic Electronic Records into Perpetuity

Abstract

The financial challenges of the processes involved in preserving electronic records into perpetuity are significant. Financial management tools will support the decision-making processes in which archives and libraries engage when preserving electronic records. Applying business concepts, in combination with archival precepts and collection management principles, to the challenge of preserving electronic records will assist institutions such as archives and libraries in making decisions that will support their mission statements and act in the best interests of their users. This article proposes that a cost model specific to preserving authentic electronic records be developed.

Digital Libraries and Digitisation: An Overview and Critique

“…(Hughes, 2004, p. 8) A number of studies have been undertaken exploring the likely costs of digitisation. Shelby Sanett (2002), for example, usefully proposed the development of a cost model for preserving authentic electronic records. Her cost model broke costs down according to capital costs, direct operating costs and indirect operating costs (overhead) for both preservation and use of electronic records.…”

Preserving the cultural heritage

“…The economics of implementing digital preservation on any scale seem to be ill defined at present as organisations are still deciding how they will tackle it, although some cost models are being presented (Sanett, 2003). However, a cursory look at the 150‐page OAIS model indicates that specialist skills are required, and specialist software possibly needed.…”

And how much does this cost? Some reflexions on long term preservation from the costing models analysis

“…Shelby Sanet studied and compared the Beagrie's model and the Iterpares study on a framework for the long term preservation of authentic records, and concluded by noting the lack of data, models and cost calculations [16]. Existing schemes to prioritize cost factors were unrealistic or poorly applied.…”

“…Russell and Weinberger, soon after [3] established the difference between costs of preservation and costs of access, Ashley [4] and Sanett [5] focused on helping archivists to make their own calculations, while Kenney and Rieger they tried reformatting costs [6], Crespo and Garcia Molina on the design of the archival repository [7], Granger about emulation versus migration costs [8], as well as Dollar a reference in the archives domain [9], Holdsworth in his work about emulation [10], Lorie in the domain of digital information [11], Rothenberg [13], and Wheatley contribution on migration [14].…”