A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE FACULTY OF INFORMATICS AND DESIGN OF THE CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MAGISTER TECHNOLOGIAE PHOTOGRAPHY CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY 2013 / This study deals with the pitfalls and standards associated with the digitisation of photographic artefacts in formal collections. The popularity of the digital medium caused a rapid increase in the demand for converting images into digital files. The need for equipment capable of executing the task successfully, the pressure on collection managers to display their collections to the world and the demand for knowledge needed by managers and operators created pressure to perform optimally and often in great haste. As a result of the rush to create digital image files to be displayed and to be preserved, the decisions that are being made may be questionable. The best choice of file formats for longevity, setting and maintaining standards to guarantee quality digital files and consultation with experts in the field of digitisation as well as attention to best practices are important aspects which must be considered. In order to determine the state of affairs in countries with an advanced knowledge and experience in the field of digitisation, a comprehensive literature study was done. It was found that enough information exists to enable collection managers in South Africa to make well informed decisions to ensure a high quality of digital collection. By means of questionnaires, a survey was undertaken amongst selected Western Cape image preservation institutions to determine the level of knowledge of the managers who are required to make informed decisions. The questionnaire was designed to give insight into choices being made regarding the technical quality, workflow and best practice aspects of digitisation. Comparing the outcome of the questionnaires with best practices and recommended standards in countries with an advanced level of experience it was found that not enough of this experience and knowledge is used by local collection managers although readily available. In some cases standards are disregarded completely. The study also investigated by means of questionnaires the perception of the digital preservation of image files by fulltime photographic students and volunteer members of the Photographic Society of South Africa. It was found that uncertainty exist within both groups with regard to file longevity and access to files in five to ten year's time. Digitisation standards are set and maintained by the use of specially designed targets which enable digitising managers to maintain control over the quality of the digital content as well as monitoring of equipment performance. The use of these targets to set standards were investigated and found to be an accurate and easy method of maintaining control over the standard and quality of digital files. Suppliers of digitising equipment very often market their equipment as being of a high quality and being able to fulfil the required digitisation tasks. Testing selected digitising equipment by means of specially designed targets proved however that potential buyers of equipment in the high cost range should be very cautious about suppliers' claims without proof of performance. Using targets to verify performance should be a routine check before any purchase. The study concludes with recommendations of implementing standards and it points to potential future research.

D. Litt. et Phil. / The use of data in science has evolved to a new level in e-science. Collaboration in e- science is important as scientists, engineers and technologists work together to solve scientific problems, through the collection and analysis of large data sets. These experiments can generate enormous amounts of data, creating a need for more efficient storage, management and processing of data. Data needs to be managed effectively to ensure possible future use for secondary analysis and further experimentation. The practice of data curation deals with the management of data, with the objective of sustaining data as a resource for future use. A number of frameworks and models have been developed to address the curation of data, but only the Open Archival Information System (OAIS) has been accepted internationally. The World Data Centre (WDC) is an organisation that was established to ensure access to scientific data for a number of different scientific disciplines. This organisation consists of 52 individual data centres (iWDCs) that are members of the WDC, and are responsible for the curation of scientific data. Because the data curation practices and needs of each iWDC differ, the purpose of this study is to determine to what extent it is possible to develop a framework for the curation of data in the WDC. This study used a mixed method research design through the collection of data from an online survey (quantitative data) and a multiple-case case study (qualitative data). All the iWDCs were invited to participate in the online survey, which was created to quantify OAIS functional model compatibility, sampling for the case study was conducted based on the OAIS functional model compatibility scores. v Based on the findings from this study, suggestions towards a suitable framework for the curation of data in the WDC are made. The key outcomes from this research included a quantitative OAIS functional model compatibility test and suggestions towards a suitable framework for the curation of data. The suggestions towards a suitable framework for the curation of data in the WDC should in future be tested in the newly formed World Data System (WDS) and adjustments made to create a viable framework for curating data in the WDS.

The basic aim of this mini-dissertation was to explore the prospects of digitisation at the University of Ghana Library System (UGLS). The research followed a qualitative approach and a case study research design was adopted. A thorough literature study was conducted. The primary purpose of the literature was to inform the research on the questions and objectives raised on the aspects of digitisation to understand the dynamics and complexity of digitisation. Six staff from the UGLS digitisation programme were purposively sampled for in-depth interviews for their direct involvement in the UGLS digitisation programme. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted with UGLS digitisation managers and the current IT and digitisation operations staff to collect data. During the interviews, the following issues associated with digitisation were addressed: policy, planning, goals and priorities, selection criteria, skills and expertise, digital preservation and long-term access, issues and challenges; solutions and recommendations to digitisation constraints of the UGLS. These issues were used to identify and develop themes where thematic analyses of research data were done. Specific recommendations were also develop to share with UGLS to address the digitisation policy and planning issues, selection issues, human resource and skills requirements; the critical challenges, resource requirements, long-term preservation and access of digitised content and the sustainability of digitisation programme. Final recommendations were made based on the findings and conclusions of the research to advise on the sustainability of the UGLS digitisation programme. / Mini Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Information Science / MIT / Unrestricted

Background. Archiving of legacy information systems is challenging. When no options exist for extracting the information in a structured way, the last resort is to save the database. Optimally only the information that is relevant should be saved and the rest of the information could be removed. Objectives. The goal is to develop a method for assisting the archivist in the process of culling a database before archiving. The method should be described as rules defining how the tables can be identified.Methods. To get an overview of how the process works today and what archivists think can be improved, a number of interviews with experts in database archiving is done. The results from the interviews are then analysed, together with test databases to define rules that can be used in a general case. The rules are then implemented in a prototype that is tested and evaluated to verify if the method works. Results. The results point to the algorithm being both faster and able to exclude more irrelevant tables than a person could do with the manual method. An algorithm for finding candidate keys has also been improved to decrease the number of tests and execution time in the worst case. Conclusions. The evaluation shows results that point to the method working as intended while resulting in less work for the archivist. More work should be done on this method to improve it further.

This paper presents a comprehensive research study that investigates the perspectives of video game preservation from three distinct target groups consisting of game developers, game museums, and video game enthusiasts. Each target group expressed their thoughts and opinions regarding game preservation efforts and the use of emulation as a preservation method. Through a mixed-method approach, including questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, the study collected both quantitative and qualitative data from 148 respondents. By examining the responses, different challenges, obstacles, and possible improvements were identified for each target group. The findings of this study revealed several common themes among the participants. The importance of collaboration and communication between all three target groups can help improve current video game preservation efforts.

Absent provenance or any background information, and with both implicit and explicit barriers to access within the archival space, how can we hypothesize—or critically fabulate—queer material legacies? The first—or earliest extant—American film to explicitly depict “queer” sex is The Surprise of a Knight (1929). By synthesizing perspectives on archives, material culture, queer identity, film, the Internet and pornography, this paper treats Surprise as an entry point into a discussion of public history and sexuality—revealing current issues with processing erotic materials and their impact on queer historiographies. This study outlines the problems presented by Surprise and explores contingencies for historical contextualization—methods public historians (archivists and interpreters alike) may adapt to fit similar materials within a broader history of film and queer identity. It explores current methods and future conundrums for best practices in the preservation of (born-digital) pornography, and concludes with impressions from potential audiences and present-day content producers as a means of envisioning new avenues of queer grassroots history-making. / History

The global perspective on digital revolution is one that has received a rapturous approval from information professionals, scholars and practitioners. However, such an approval has come at a great cost to memory institutions as the preservation of digital information has proved to be a complex phenomenon to memory institutions. Guided by the multi method design and underpinned by the triangulation of questionnaires, interviews, observation and document analysis, the study examined digital preservation of e-government in Ghana. Findings revealed that the creation of databases, digital publication, emails, website information and tweets were often ocassioned by the use of ICT, e-government, and application of legislations and public policies. It observed that these types of digital records were in urgent need for preservation as most of the ministries and agencies were unable to access their digital records. While the application of a digital preservation tool (Lots of Copies Keeps Stuff Safe) was a familiar terrain to the ministries and agencies, there was expressed lack of awareness about digital preservation support organisations and digital preservation standards. The study identified funding, level of security and privacy, skills training and technological obsolescence as factors that pose key threats to digital preservation. It noted backup strategy, migration, metadata and trusted repositories as the most widely implemented preservation strategy across the ministries and agencies. On the other hand, cloud computing, refreshing and emulation were the least implemented preservation strategies used to address the digital preservation challenges . The study recommends that the ministries and agencies can address many of the digital preservation challenges if they leverage on collaborative and participatory opportunities. Such collaborative and participatory opportunities involve the use of experts from other institutions to share resources and use a common protocol through cloud computing and Open Data. It further recommends that the process of developing a digital preservation policy can be guided by a template document from other jurisdictions / Information Science / D. Litt et Phil. (Information Science)

本研究旨在探討國家圖書館數位保存計畫之促成因素與相關問題，藉由比較研究之描述、解釋、併排與比較四步驟，研究美國與澳洲國家圖書館數位保存計畫之內涵，瞭解美國國會圖書館與澳洲國家圖書館在數位保存活動中扮演的角色、任務、法定寄存制度、數位保存計畫背景與促成因素等，歸納數位保存策略與典範，以提出我國發展數位保存計畫之建議與參考。 研究結果歸納促成美國與澳洲國家圖書館數位保存計畫發展的15項共同因素與3項不同因素。共同因素為：1.兩國皆因著作權法促成國家圖書館擔負法定寄存的責任；2.重視數位保存問題；3.重視數位資源法定寄存；4.數位資源採自願寄存協議；5.落實國家數位保存計畫；6.落實網站典藏保存計畫；7.採合作蒐集數位資源的策略；8.研訂所需描述性後設資料標準；9.採用多種Metadata架構；10.研訂保存性後設資料標準；11.數位保存技術策略；12.採用唯一的數位保存官方標準OAIS參考模式；13.採用HTTrack網站擷取工具；14.重視數位資源的永久取用；15.合宜的數位資源取用策略。不同因素為：1.國家數位保存計畫發展方式不同；2.網路資源典藏計畫不同；3.數位資源選擇決策不同。 本論文結論歸納發展國家數位保存應考量下列議題：1.國家圖書館數位保存的重要性；2.法定寄存制度與數位資源寄存問題；3.數位保存計畫推動；4.數位資源館藏政策與選擇指南；5.網路資源編目標準；6.Metadata標準；7.描述性後設資料；8.保存性後設資料；9.數位典藏庫；10.數位保存策略；11.數位保存取用與服務；12.數位保存成功因素與策略。 最後建議：1.加強原生數位資料研究；2.國家圖書館推動我國數位保存計畫；3. 建置我國網站典藏先導計畫；4.訂定數位館藏發展政策；5.訂定數位保存政策。 / The purpose of the study is to analyze the factors that helped to materialize the national library digital preservation projects. Through description, interpretation, juxtaposition, and comparison, this study research the concepts of the digital preservation projects from Library of Congress and National Library of Australia, which include the role, the mission, the legal deposit policy, the background, and the relevant factors of the digital preservation standards and strategy. Finally come up with the suggestion of the digital preservation projects of our own. The results of this study include 15 common factors and 3 different factors. The common factors are: 1.The national libraries are responsible for the legal deposit policy due to the copyright act；2.Emphasize on the digital preservation；3. Emphasize on the legal deposit policy；4.There is no common agreement on digital resources deposit policy；5.Carry out national digital preservation projects；6.Execute the web capture projects；7.Adopt the strategy of collecting digital resources together； 8.Construct the descriptive metadata standards；9.Adopt several metadata schemas； 10.Construct preservation metadata standards；11.Digital preservation strategy；12. Adopt official digital preservation standard OAIS；13.Adopt HTTrack web capture tool；14.Emphasize on the permanent access of the digital resources；15.Appropriate digital resources access strategy. The different factors are: 1.The development of the national digital preservation projects；2.The collection of the web-based resources projects；3.The selection decision of the digital resources. The conclusions of the study are: 1.The importance on digital preservation of a national library；2.The issues of legal deposit policy and the deposition of the digital resources；3.Successfully promote the development of a digital preservation project；4.Digital resources collection policy and selection guidelines；5.Web resources cataloging standards；6.Metadata standards；7.Descriptive metadata；8.Preservation metadata；9.Digital repository；10.Digital preservation strategy；11.Access and services of digital preservation；12.Succesful factors of promoting digital preservation projects. The study makes final suggestions as follows: 1.Emphasis on the research of born digital materials. 2. Promote national central library to develop our national digital preservation projects. 3. Construct the web-archiving pilot project. 4. Establish the digital collection development policy. 5. Establish the digital preservation policy.

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been embraced by a number of public institutions in Masvingo province of Zimbabwe as part of the government’s drive towards e-governance and improved service delivery. This has resulted in the generation of large volumes of digital records that are invaluable for strengthening accountability, transparency, decision making and service delivery. Preservation of these digital records has been cited as a daunting task for most institutions especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The dynamic nature of information technologies, obsolescence issues, as well as media degradation require digital preservation strategies in place to ensure that digital records remain accessible and usable over time. However, the National Archives of Zimbabwe (NAZ) mandated to preserve all types of records is at the moment unable to ingest digital records from public departments for preservation due to lack of adequate digital storage facilities and skilled manpower. The records creating agencies in Masvingo have been left on their own to deal with the digital preservation conundrum yet they are also faced with similar challenges. This qualitative study utilised the Open Archival Information System (OAIS) reference model as the conceptual framework to explore the strategies for preservation of digital records in Masvingo province in Zimbabwe. Data was gathered through interviews with officials from 13 out of 15 public departments that preserved digital records in Masvingo province, augmented by observation and document analysis. Research data was manually processed and thematically analysed in line with the objectives of the study. The study established that the strategies for preservation of digital records in Masvingo province were failing to guarantee their long-term preservation and security due to lack of supportive legislation, standards, policy guidelines, budgets, adequate and conducive infrastructure and skills. This has resulted in swathes of digital memory being lost. The study recommended the adoption of trusted digital repositories (TDRs) that are compliant to the OAIS standard, close co-operation between records creating agencies, NAZ, information technology (IT) experts and the academia in tackling digital preservation challenges, and the development of preservation policies and guidelines, as well as continuous training and provision of budgets to cater for preservation of digital records. In the absence of infrastructure, the NAZ should consider cloud computing for preservation of digital records as an interim solution while observing legal obligations. / Information Science / M. Inf. (Archival Science)

The global perspective on digital revolution is one that has received a rapturous approval from information professionals, scholars and practitioners. However, such an approval has come at a great cost to memory institutions as the preservation of digital information has proved to be a complex phenomenon to memory institutions. Guided by the multi method design and underpinned by the triangulation of questionnaires, interviews, observation and document analysis, the study examined digital preservation of e-government in Ghana. Findings revealed that the creation of databases, digital publication, emails, website information and tweets were often ocassioned by the use of ICT, e-government, and application of legislations and public policies. It observed that these types of digital records were in urgent need for preservation as most of the ministries and agencies were unable to access their digital records. While the application of a digital preservation tool (Lots of Copies Keeps Stuff Safe) was a familiar terrain to the ministries and agencies, there was expressed lack of awareness about digital preservation support organisations and digital preservation standards. The study identified funding, level of security and privacy, skills training and technological obsolescence as factors that pose key threats to digital preservation. It noted backup strategy, migration, metadata and trusted repositories as the most widely implemented preservation strategy across the ministries and agencies. On the other hand, cloud computing, refreshing and emulation were the least implemented preservation strategies used to address the digital preservation challenges . The study recommends that the ministries and agencies can address many of the digital preservation challenges if they leverage on collaborative and participatory opportunities. Such collaborative and participatory opportunities involve the use of experts from other institutions to share resources and use a common protocol through cloud computing and Open Data. It further recommends that the process of developing a digital preservation policy can be guided by a template document from other jurisdictions / Information Science / D. Litt et Phil. (Information Science)