Langzeitaufbewahrungsfristen

Langzeitaufbewahrung, or long-term storage, preserves items so they remain accessible, authentic, and usable for extended periods. It covers physical objects such as records, photographs, and artifacts, as well as digital data. In libraries, archives, museums, and many organizations, strategies address deterioration, obsolescence, and loss of information.

Physical storage relies on controlled environments, archival materials, and careful handling. Stable temperature and humidity, acid-free folders, pest management, robust shelving, and secure facilities help slow decay. Regular inventories and disaster planning maintain integrity and accessibility.

Digital storage emphasizes bit preservation and readable representations in the future. Practices include redundant geographic storage, periodic integrity checks with checksums, format migration or emulation, and metadata standards such as PREMIS and OAIS. Choosing open, well-documented formats and preserving context with descriptive, technical, and administrative metadata supports future use.

Challenges include physical decay, technological change, data corruption, and budget limits. Effective programs use risk assessment, planned migrations, and clear retention policies. Governance standards provide guidance for provenance, authenticity, and access, while legal requirements shape retention and privacy protections.

Typical targets for Langzeitaufbewahrung are official records, scholarly archives, cultural heritage materials, and vital digital assets. The aim is to balance ongoing accessibility with preservation, enabling future generations to locate, understand, and verify preserved items.