Update on UDFR Unified Digital Format Registry

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Update on UDFR (Unified Digital Format Registry)

• NDIIPP Meeting June 25, 2009
• Andrea Goethals

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Todays agenda

• Why do we need a format registry for digital
  preservation?
• UDFR background and process

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Why do we need a format registry for digital
preservation?
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Usability

• A key goal of digital preservation is to maintain
  the usability of the information content stored
  in digital form
• We need to be able to
• Determine if its already or likely to become
  unusable
• Make plans to take action if its already or
  likely to become unusable

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Using information content
Analog book Unmediated use
Digital book Technology-mediated use
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Formats are key to determining usability
Formats are the bridge between the content we
want to preserve and supporting technologies
digital content
supporting technologies
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How do we know if its usable?

• Determine contents format
• Based on format, assess content
• What current technologies can render this format?
• Are there sustainability issues related to this
  format?
• How is this format viewed by the preservation
  community?

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What do we do if its unusable?

• Based on the format, develop plan for action
• What alternative formats could be used for the
  content?
• What software can transform between these
  formats?
• What technologies can emulate this format?
• Is there enough documentation to write a renderer
  for this format?

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Format registry pooled knowledge

• What current technologies can render this
  format?
• Are there sustainability issues related to this
  format?
• How is this format viewed by the preservation
  community?
• What alternative formats could be used for the
  content?
• What software can transform between these
  formats?
• What technologies can emulate this format?
• Is there enough documentation to write a
  renderer for this format?

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Format Registry

• Format information much more
• Common format model identifiers

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A base for a network of preservation tools and
services
Format Transformation Tools
Assessment Services
Migration Services
Format Registry
Tech. Watch Services
Format Validation Tools
Format Identification Tools
Emulation Services
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UDFR background and process
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Unified Digital Format Registry

• Combination of two format registry initiatives
• PRONOM (UK National Archives)
• Make use of software and reuse data
• Global Digital Format Registry (GDFR)
• Support use cases, data model and distributed
  architectural model
• Plus additional features
• Local registry extensions
• Distributed data input quality vetting

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UDFR Governance

• Interim governing body (April - Nov. 2009)

• Library and Archives Canada
• The National Archives UK
• Harvard University Library
• The British Library
• University of Illinois UC

• Georgia Institute of Technology
• NARA
• Koninklijke Bibliotheek
• Library of Congress

• Permanent governing body (Nov. 2009 -)

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Interim Process 2 working groups

• Technical working group
• Subset of interim governing body members some
  additional experts/consultants
• Governance working group
• All interim governing body members

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Schedule

• Have a 1.5 year roadmap
• Its very ambitious! Maybe too ambitious?

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June-September 2009

• Technical Working Group
• Use cases / functional requirements
• Data model
• Investigate technologies for distributed data
  input
• Phase 1 registry requirements
• Phase 1 development plan

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June-September 2009

• Governance Working Group
• Organizational structure
• Financial model
• Registry operations
• Membership constraints and responsibilities
• IP policy for registry software and data

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September October 2009

• Invitation for public comment on
• Proposed governance charter
• Proposed registry policy for IP
• UDFR Phase 1 functional requirements
• UDFR Phase 1 development plan

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October 2009

• Technical working group
• Oversee technical specification development
• Governance working group
• Proposal for editorial process for vetting
  contributed data

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November 2009

• Permanent governing body established
• Establishes funding model
• Takes over all interim body work
• Revises schedule if necessary
• UDFR Phase 1 development begins

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According to plan

• Feb. 2010 UDFR Phase 1 ready for testing
• March 2010 UDFR Phase 1 in production
• June 2010 UDFR Phase 2 ready for testing
• July 2010 UDFR Phase 2 in production
• Includes editorial process for data contributions

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Questions?

• http//www.udfr.org
• Pam Armstrong (pam.armstrong_at_lac-bac.gc.ca)
• Andrea Goethals (andrea_goethals_at_harvard.edu)