Keptpreserved

Keptpreserved is a term used in digital preservation and archival contexts to describe assets that have undergone prescribed preservation actions and are maintained in a stable, accessible state over time. It functions as an informal label rather than a formal standard and is often used by repositories, libraries, and museums to indicate that an item has passed preservation checks and is included in a preservation-ready copy set.

In practice, achieving keptpreserved status typically involves ingesting digital objects, characterizing formats, creating multiple fixity-checked copies across diverse storage media, and recording preservation metadata such as provenance, rights, and integrity checksums. Ongoing management may include regular integrity verification, format identification, and, when necessary, strategies like migration to current formats or planning for emulation to preserve usability as technology evolves. The goal is to reduce the risk of data loss and to preserve both the content and its contextual information.

Storage and technical approaches commonly associated with keptpreserved include replication across geographic locations (often with redundant storage), the use of checksums to detect corruption, and adherence to preservation policies that specify access, rights, and retention periods. Some programs align with established preservation frameworks and standards, such as OAIS, PREMIS, and documented best practices for bit-level preservation, metadata management, and access control.

Limitations and challenges include the cost of storage and staffing, legal and rights considerations, technological obsolescence, and the risk that preserved copies do not guarantee long-term accessibility if access needs or formats become unusable. Keptpreserved remains a practical label rather than a formal standard, reflecting ongoing commitments to durable access and reliable archival integrity. See also digital preservation, OAIS, PREMIS, LOCKSS.