Archivalquality

Archivalquality refers to the degree to which a material, object, or digital file is suitable for long-term preservation and future accessibility. In libraries, archives, museums, and data centers, archivalquality covers material selection, storage conditions, and ongoing maintenance designed to resist degradation over decades. It is not a guarantee of immortality, but a discipline that combines chemistry, conservation, and information management to maximize survivability.

For physical media, archivalquality emphasizes stability and neutrality of materials. Paper for archival use is acid-free and lignin-free, often buffered to a neutral or mildly alkaline pH. Enclosures and storage boxes use stable plastics such as polyester or polypropylene rather than PVC. Photographic and film media rely on durable emulsions and protective housings. Environmental controls—stable temperature and humidity, protection from light and pollutants, and careful handling—are essential.

For digital objects, archivalquality involves formats, metadata, and preservation actions. Favor open, well-documented formats with long-term support. Preservation strategies include checksums for bit-preservation, redundancy across locations, and planned migration or emulation when formats become obsolete. Metadata standards such as PREMIS for preservation history, METS or MODS for packaging, and Dublin Core for discovery are commonly used. The OAIS reference model (ISO 14721) provides a framework for trusted repositories.

Standards and professional initiatives guide decisions, including ANSI Z39.48 and ISO 9706 for paper permanence, and OAIS (ISO 14721), TRAC (Trusted Repositories Audit & Certification), and related best practices. Archivalquality is context-dependent, requires ongoing resources, and cannot guarantee indefinite preservation, but it offers a disciplined basis for protecting valuable information.