earkiv

earkiv is an open-source platform designed for the preservation and access of digital audio archives. It provides a modular framework for organizing, ingesting, preserving, and delivering audio recordings, with an emphasis on long-term accessibility for libraries, archives, researchers, and educators.

The system is typically composed of components for ingest workflows, metadata management, format normalization, preservation actions, a secure storage backend, and a web-based user interface. It supports common audio formats and integrates metadata standards such as Dublin Core and PREMIS, with capabilities for packaging and metadata exchange to facilitate interoperability across institutions. Ingest processes often include validation, fingerprinting, and the generation of preservation events to document handling and preservation actions.

In terms of preservation, earkiv emphasizes fixity checks, versioning, and, when appropriate, format migration to reduce the risk of data loss or degradation over time. Access features usually include robust search and filtering, with options for streaming or download based on rights and access policies. Rights management, embargoes, and use statements can be attached to individual items to support responsible access.

Governance and licensing are oriented toward openness: earkiv is typically developed in public, with code hosted on collaborative platforms under an open-source license. Contributions from libraries, archives, universities, and researchers are encouraged to advance standards-compliant preservation practices. By providing an open, interoperable solution, earkiv aims to support the creation of durable audio collections and facilitate scholarly study and public access.