Langzeitarchiv

Langzeitarchiv is a term in information management for systems and practices that aim to preserve digital objects over long timescales. Its purpose is to maintain authenticity, integrity and accessibility despite changing technology, media decay and evolving user needs. It combines storage strategies with organizational policies, including metadata capture, access rules and preservation planning.

A core concept is the OAIS reference model, which guides ingest, archival storage and access. Preservation metadata, such as PREMIS or METS, records provenance, rights, fixity and preservation actions. Preservation strategies include bit-level preservation, storage redundancy, format migration and, when feasible, emulation of obsolete environments.

Operations are typically performed by trusted digital repositories with defined governance. This involves multiple copies in geographically distributed locations, regular integrity checks, and documented preservation plans. Ingest workflows, archival storage and access interfaces are organized around a formal lifecycle.

Common challenges include sustained funding, skilled personnel, legal and rights management, and the risk of obsolescence. Achieving interoperability requires adherence to standards and cooperation among institutions, often under national or international programs.

Langzeitarchiv is applied by national libraries, archives, universities and museums to safeguard research data, cultural heritage and public records. It supports accountability, reproducibility and long-term memory of digital information.