Digital Preservationist
The systematic curation and protection of digital assets to ensure long-term accessibility and integrity.
Overview
The role centers on the technical and archival management of born-digital and digitized assets to ensure they remain readable across generations of technology. Daily activities involve auditing digital repositories, developing automated workflows for ingestion, and performing fixity checks to verify data integrity. The work requires high attention to detail and a methodical approach to documenting the provenance and technical specifications of diverse file formats.
The rhythm of the work is typically steady and project-based, often involving collaboration with IT departments and curatorial staff to align preservation goals with institutional priorities. Success in this field depends on a deep understanding of digital forensics and a proactive stance toward emerging security threats to data. Individuals who find satisfaction in systematic problem-solving and the stewardship of historical records tend to excel in this environment.
The career offers a blend of independent technical analysis and strategic planning within mission-driven organizations.
Responsibilities
- Develop and implement comprehensive digital preservation policies and strategic plans for the institution.
- Manage the ingestion of digital objects into trusted digital repositories using standardized metadata schemas.
- Monitor digital storage systems for signs of data degradation or hardware failure through regular integrity audits.
- Research and execute migration strategies for at-risk file formats to prevent information loss from software obsolescence.
- Configure and maintain digital asset management systems to ensure efficient retrieval and long-term security.
- Collaborate with legal teams to address copyright and intellectual property issues related to digital archiving.
- Train staff and stakeholders on best practices for digital file creation and long-term data management.
Qualifications
- A Master of Library and Information Science or a graduate degree in archival studies is typically mandatory.
- Demonstrated expertise in metadata standards such as Dublin Core, PREMIS, or METS is required.
- Technical proficiency with digital repository software like Archivematica, Preservica, or Islandora is essential.
- Knowledge of digital forensic tools and techniques for handling legacy media is necessary for the role.
- Experience in project management within a museum, library, or government archive setting is expected.
Nice to have
- Professional certification from the Academy of Certified Archivists or a similar body provides a competitive edge.
- Experience with programming languages such as Python or Ruby for automating archival workflows is highly valued.
- Advanced knowledge of database management and cloud-based storage infrastructure enhances a candidate's profile.
Work environment
- Work is primarily conducted in a climate-controlled office or library setting with occasional server room access.
- The environment is collaborative, involving frequent communication with archivists, librarians, and information technology specialists.
- Standard office hours are common, though large-scale data migrations may occasionally require after-hours monitoring.
- Tools include specialized digital forensics hardware, high-speed scanners, and cloud-integrated archival software suites.
Benefits & growth
- Compensation often includes comprehensive public sector or institutional benefits packages and pension plans.
- Professional development is supported through specialized training in emerging digital standards and forensic technologies.
- Career progression typically leads to roles such as Head of Digital Curation or Director of Information Governance.
- The role offers significant job stability within government agencies and well-endowed academic institutions.
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