The Current Situation and Development of Digital Preservation in China

The Current Situation and Development of Digital Preservation in China

Jianhai Ruan

Visiting Scholar of GSLIS

Outline

1. Why Digital Preservation in China?

2. The Status of digital preservation in China

3. Activities of Digital Preservation in China

4. The Comparison of Digital Preservation between USA and China

5. The Thinking of Digital Preservation in China

Why Digital Preservation?

☆China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) Releases the 23nd Statistical Report on the Internet Development in China (January 13, 2009) .

☆According to the newly released Statistical Repot by China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC):

By the end of December 2008, the amount of netizens in China had reached 298 million, it is the first place in the world.

This report indicates the number of broadband users has reached 270 million, which also tops the world.

The CNNIC also announced that, by the time of December 31,2008, the number of CN domain names, which was 13.57 million, is the largest country code Top-Level Domain names in the world.

The size of netizens in China has continued to display the trend of rapid development.

Growth of Netizens in China

Source: China Internet Network Information CenterChina Internet Network Information Center: http://www.cnnic.cn/en/index/

Internet Penetration Rate in China

Source: China Internet Network Information CenterChina Internet Network Information Center: http://www.cnnic.cn/en/index/


☆The universal impact of digital information environment

the development of the Internet and new information technologies propelled people’s lives into the digital epoch.

People live in two worlds at the present time: the real world and the virtual world.

The Internet is a vast virtual world. People can do everything what people do in real world on Internet.

digital societies have emerged and digital communities have formed of E-government, E-learning, E-business and E-service.


☆The universal impact of digital information environment

Digital Life: Computer and Internet are common tools

of people’s working, living, and studying. Digital camera, digital camcorder, cell

phone, scanner, and GPS provide people much pleasure and convenient.

Online communities. Online games.


☆Vast quantities of information in digital form “Born-digital”: Text, Images, Audio, Video, Web pages, Computer

programs, Databases are produced, exchanged, and used in a variety of settings.

Electronic publishing: (includes the digital publication of e-books and electronic articles, and the development of digital libraries and catalogues.)

Publication in print version and digital version. Electronic publishing is increasingly popular in works

of fiction as well as with scientific articles. Publication in digital-only version. A number of journals have established electronic

versions or even moved entirely to electronic publication.


☆Vast quantities of information in digital form Large-Scale Digitalization: The paper materials are scanned and

converted into digital form.For instance:① CALIS (China Academic Library & Information

System): ●The dissertation database subproject; ●The special subject databases subproject. ②CADAL (China-US Million Book Digital Library

Project): http://www.cadal.zju.edu.cn/

Large-Scale Digitization

The goal of the Library's Large-Scale Digitization is to convert the Library's print collection into digital form in support of the library's long-standing commitment to make its collections broadly available.

The digitization of information resources is a pattern of the preservation of paper literatures.

Collections grid

high low

low

high

stewardship

uni

que

ne

ssBooksJournalsNewspapersGov. docsCD, DVDMapsScores

Special collectionsRare booksLocal/Historical newspapersLocal history materialsArchives & Manuscripts, Theses & dissertations

Research and learning materials •ePrints/tech reports•Learning objects•Courseware•E-portfolios•Research data

Freely-accessible web resourcesOpen source softwareNewsgroup archives

Cited from: Lorcan Dempsey “Terms and conditions ... libraries, subject terminologies and the web 2004 http://www.oclc.org/research/presentations/dempsey/dewey_20040316.ppt


☆Vast quantities of information in digital form Virtual Reality(VR): The use of VR in Heritage and Archaeology has

enormous potential in museum and visitor centre applications.

Virtual Reality enables heritage sites to be recreated extremely accurately, so that the recreations can be published in various media.

Virtual Forbidden City: 3D virtual world based on the Palace Museum in Beijing.

http://www.beyondspaceandtime.org/

Virtual Forbidden City


More and more valuable information is in digital form.

Universal access to information is an essential element of a Knowledge Society.

Access to and dissemination of information relies on the stability of documents and the retrievability of their content.


Digital information faces: The prospect of vanishing away rapidly due to

their amorphousness and might be easily lost. Technical developments often result in greater

instability and shorter lifespans of documents. The consequence of the fragility of digital

storage media, as well as rapid obsolescence of storage and rendering environments.


There is a real danger that much important digital information will be lost through lack of awareness and poor planning for the future.

The preservation of digital materials becomes an imperative.

So …

We need to think about digital preservation problem

— of securing the long-term persistence of information in digital form.

— of demonstrating its value

— and of releasing its value in the digital environment.

We need to promote awareness of the importance of preserving digital information.

We need to find better ways of digital preservation.

The Status of digital preservation in China

The Studies of Digital Preservation in China

The studies on digital preservation in China began in the 1990s, but most of the studies were carried out by individuals, even though there were no funds available for studies in this area.

Since 2000, the Chinese government has begun to pay attention to digital preservation. Some projects about digital preservation were funded by funded by the Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC – www.nsfc.gov.cn/) and by National Planning Office of Philosophy and Social Science (NPOPSS – http://www.npopss-cn.gov.cn/).

Status of the preservation of digital resources in China

The following data cited from the paper titled “Status of the preservation of digital resources in China: results of a survey”. Program: electronic library and information systems, Vol. 41, No. 1, 2007. PP35 – 46.

These first-hand data shows the main challenges in preserving digital resources in libraries, archives and information centers in China .

Figure 1: Geographic distribution of respondents

The complexity of digital collections in China

Table 2 provides an overview of the collection types within libraries, archives and information centers and it can be seen that digital pictures, databases and multimedia have been collected in all types of organization surveyed.

The multimedia collections in archives are less common than in libraries and information centers.


Table 3 shows the type of digital collection within an organisation.

Many libraries have all three types of collection (digital pictures, databases and multimedia).

In contrast with libraries, near a half of the archives have only two types of collection.

Most information centres have all types.


The complexity of digital collections in China is reflected in the variety of the digital collections, the storage media and the storage formats used.

Storage formats

The main data storage formats for pictures were jpg, tif and pdf;

For databases, they were SQL-server, Oracle, Access and Sybase for databases;

For multimedia, formats such as MP3, AVI (Audio Video Interleave) , WAV (Waveform), RM (RealMedia) and RMVB (RealMedia Variable Bitrate) were used.

A number of other formats were also used including special formats for Chinese materials (e.g. Fangzheng and Chaoxin) .

Selection of data formats

Selection of data formats

The status of format selection for the same resources within an organization and the results are shown in Tables 5-7.

To select different storage formats for the same type of resource within an organization is very common.

The reasons may be related to the different aims of collection resource management, or to their non-standardized management within the organization.

Diversification of storage media

Table 8 shows the range of media used for digital storage in libraries and archives.

The data in libraries and archives have been stored on various media, such as optical disc, floppy disc, magnetic tape, hard disc and others.

Most libraries and archives have preserved a great deal of information on optical discs.

Most optical discs collected by libraries are electronic publications on CD-ROMs provided by publishers.

The optical discs in archives are CD-Rs (i.e. they contain information written on to the discs, and archives often “write” the data of digitized collections on to these optical discs). The choice of media is made by staff in the archives.

Storage conditions for digital information

Table 9 Storage conditions of digital collections in libraries, archives and information centers (n=57)

The “Others” indicated in the last column of Table 9 includes antimagnetic equipment, light-proof equipment, mildew-proof equipment and so on.


Table 9 shows overall details regarding media storage conditions.

The storage conditions of most digital collection are good.

Majority of media are separately kept in surroundings with controlled temperature and humidity, fireproof, waterproof and theft-proof equipment.

Storage conditions of digital media by type of organization

Table 10 compares the storage conditions of libraries with those of archives.

It indicates that some libraries or archives still have some collections stored in bad conditions.


Table 11 Comparison of media storage conditions between libraries and archives.

The five “measures” are separate storage; air-conditioning; fireproofing; waterproofing and

Most organizations have implemented all five measures at the same time, but some have not taken any measures;

Archives have paid more attention to media storage conditions than libraries.

Deterioration of data

The physical deterioration of data has existed in: (According to the responses from all participants).

archives 32.1 per cent (n=28); libraries 71.4 per cent (n=21); and information centers 25 per cent (n=8).

The physical deterioration of digital data would appear to be universal in China and might be related to the high use factor.

The physical deterioration of digital data often leads to some non-renewable data loss.

The storage condition of the data is only one of the factors needed to keep the data physically intact, as improper management and maintenance can result in the physical deterioration of the data.

The physical deterioration of digital data can be reduced or avoided by appropriate management measures.

Inability to read the data

According to the investigation: 14.3 per cent of the 28 archives and 47.6

per cent of the 21 libraries had not been able to read digital data they had preserved.

10.7 per cent of the archives, 33.3 per cent of the libraries and 12.5 per cent of the information centers reported having obsolete storage media.

Weak data back-up management

Table 12 indicates that there are a few organizations without any back-up measures, and only a few adopt online back-up measures.

Activities of Digital Preservation in China

The projects of Digital Preservation

☆Project: Management Strategies of Ensuring Long-term Access to Digital Information

☆Abstract: Through surveying research materials, making on-the-spot inspections,

and combining existing research, This project investigated the main factors that influence the long-term availability of digital information and proposed criteria for the selection and appraisal of sources. We also proposed policies for ensuring long-term access to selected digital information sources and suggested administrative steps for the maintenance of digital information using the document life-cycle approach.

☆Principal Investigator: Liu Jiazhen, Professor in the School of Information Management, Wuhan

University, Wuhan, China.☆Funding: (Fund NO. 701400021) , the Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC –

www.nsfc.gov.cn/).


☆Project: The Strategy Study on Chinese Culture Digital Resource Preservation Warehouse

☆Abstract: This project is likely to develop strategies for the modification or

extension of existing statutes, to ensure the long-term preservation of digital resources. It will also result in guidelines for information resource management departments to manage digital resources in an appropriate manner.

☆Principal Investigator: Liu Jiazhen, Professor in the School of Information Management,

Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.☆Funding: (Fund NO. 70373048), the Natural Science Foundation of China

(NSFC – www.nsfc.gov.cn/).


☆Project: Web Information Collection and Preservation (WICP) ☆Abstract: The National Library of China always attaches great importance

to preservation and protection of all kinds of documents. Web pages have become a new dimensional space for social culture and a cultural heritage in today’s world. This project is likely to develop strategies by operating an experimental web-archiving project. Based on results achieved from this project, NLC will be able to formulate policies and strategies for long-term preservation of digital information.

☆Principal Investigator: National Library of China, Beijing, China.☆Funding: National Library of China

Cooperation and Exchange

Sino-US Forum on Digital Preservation

Theme : “Digital Information Long-term Maintenance and Preservation”.

Sponsors: National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and US National Science Foundation (NSF).

Organizers: School of Information Management, Wuhan University and Institute of Archives science and technology.

Time: May 15-16, 2008 Place: Beijing, China.

Sino-US Forum

Subjects:

1. Government Information Resource Management.2. Application of OAIS in Digital Information Resource Management.3. Digital Library and Digital Archives.4. Filing and Long-term Preservation of Digital Records.5. Application of Metadata in Information Resource Management.

Chinese-European Workshop on Digital Preservation Sponsoring institutions: National Science and Technology Library (NSTL) National Library of China (NLC) Chinese Science Digital Library of the Chinese Academy of

Sciences (CSDL/CAS) China Academic Library & Information System (CALIS) Electronic Information for Libraries (eIFL) Organizing institutions: China Academic Library & Information System (CALIS) Chinese Science Digital Library of the Chinese Academy of

Sciences (CSDL/CAS) Gottingen State and University Library (SUB) Austrian National Library (ANL) Electronic Information for Libraries (eIFL)

Chinese-European Workshop on Digital Preservation Undertakers:• Chinese Academic Library & Information System Chinese Science• Digital Library of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Time: July 14-16, 2004 Location: Library of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing,

China. TOPICS OF WORKSHOP: Overview of issues about Digital Preservation Preservation Aspects of Different Digital Object Types Digital Preservation in the Organisational Context A Global Infrastructure for Local Preservation National and International Preservation Strategies and Initiatives /

International Cooperation

The International Conference on the Digital Preservation (iPRES 2007)

Theme: “Digital Preservation: Sustainable Programs and Best Practices”

Organizer: the National Science and Technology Library of China (http://www.nstl.gov.cn)

Undertaker: The National Science Library, Chinese Academy

of Sciences (http://www.las.ac.cn). Time: October 11-12, 2007 Place: The National Science Library, Chinese

Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.


☆Subjects:

I. Management: planning, administering, staffing, financing, certifying

II. Operations: system evaluating and selecting, workflow managing, and rights managing

III. New directions in preservation: service environments, grid, personal archives, linking scientific data and primary publications


☆iPRES is the series of annual international conferences which bring together researchers and practitioners from around the world to explore the latest trends, innovations, thinking, and practice in digital preservation.

☆Following on the successful iPRES 2004 at LCAS, Beijing, China, iPRES 2005 at SUB, Goettingen, Germany, and iPRES 2006 at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, U.S.A., iPRES 2007 at NSL, Beijing, China, iPRES 2008 at the British Library, London, Britain, iPRES 2009 will be organized by the California Digital Library (CDL) in San Francisco, October 5-6, 2009 at the Mission Bay Conference Center.


☆ iPRES2009 will be the sixth in the series of annual international conferences that bring together researchers and practitioners from around the world to explore the latest trends, innovations, and practices in preserving our scientific and cultural heritage.

☆The promise of digital preservation will be realized when it is truly integrated into the mainstream of digital scholarship, culture and commerce. iPRES2009 will continue the discussion of creating our digital future.


☆ http://www.cdlib.org/iPres/ipres2009.html

The Long-term Digital Preservation is attached importance to in China Cultural organizations in China, such as digital relevant

department and library, have realized the importance of the long-term digital preservation of scientific and technical information, and began to build the network of preserving digital information resources, to organize main scientific and technological information organizations to discuss and build the mechanism of the long-term digital preservation, and to develop and test the long-term preservation system jointly, supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of People’s Republic of China. (Cited and translated from Guangming Daily, 2007-10-25 ).

The Long-term Digital Preservation is attached importance to in China

http://www.gmw.cn/01gmrb/2007-10/25/content_688198.htm

Joint Advanced Seminar for Digital Libraries Teaching Objectives : Advanced Professional of

Digital Libray. Organizers: The National Science and

Technology Library of China (NSTL) and School of Information Studies, Syracuse University,USA

Undertaker: The National Science Library, Chinese Academy

of Sciences Time: One Seminar biennialy Place: The National Science Library, Chinese

Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

Joint Advanced Seminar for Digital Libraries This seminar is two years period. It has six courses.

Three courses every year (estimate 80 class hours), 10 days.

Six courses: • First Year: Introduction to Digital Libraries, Planning

and Evaluation of Digital Library Services, XML in Digital Library;

• Second Year: Digital Resources Preservation, Human-computer Interaction and Digital Library, The Systematic Design and Application of Knowledge Organization.

Certificate: Certificate for Advanced Studies in Digital Libraries, School of Information Studies, Syracuse University ， USA

The Comparison of Digital Preservation between China and

USA

Planning and Infrastructure

☆National level Program in USA:The National Digital Information Infrastructure and

Preservation Program (NDIIPP) : http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/

☆Organization level in China: National Science and Technology Library (NSTL) National Library of China (NLC) Chinese Science Digital Library of the Chinese Academy of

Sciences (CSDL/CAS) China Academic Library & Information System (CALIS)

Management Policy and Strategy

☆Digital Preservation Management in Library in USA:

The IDEALS initiative (the University’s Institutional Repository), the Preservation and Conservation Program’s digital preservation management.

http://www.library.uiuc.edu/prescons/services/digital_preservation.html☆Most libraries in China have not pay attention to

digital preservation management and practice.

Education and Training

☆In USA: Graduate Course: LIS590PDL Digital

Preservation in GSLIS. Digital Preservation Management Workshop in

Library of UIUC.

☆In China: There is no the course of Digital Preservation in most

graduate school of Library and Information Science.

Projects and Cooperation

☆The projects place extra emphasis on specific objectives, and multi-partners in USA.

Preserving Creative America: Preserving Virtual Worlds. Partners include the University of Maryland, Stanford University, Rochester Institute of Technology and Linden Lab.

☆The projects place extra emphasis on management strategy, and seldom-partners in China.

The Thinking of Digital Preservation in China

Issues and Challenge

Lacking integrated policy and strategic planning for long-term digital preservation.

Lacking mandatory, effective measure and means of long-term digital preservation.

Lacking policy guidance, planning coordination, supervise and inspect.

Lacking systematic research and perfect scheme of technological orientation.

Crucially, Lacking fund investment for digital preservation.

Conclusion

The aim of digital preservation is to enable long-term storage and effective access to the information.

We have known the reasons of influencing the development of digital preservation in China, so, we will try our best to do it well.

I believe that China will make considerable progress in Digital Preservation.

Thank you!Thank you!Welcome to Chongqing, China!Welcome to Chongqing, China!

The Current Situation and Development of Digital Preservation in China

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