preservasjonsmetadata

Preservasjonsmetadata refers to the information needed to ensure long-term access to and usability of digital objects. It is crucial for digital preservation, which aims to maintain the authenticity, integrity, and accessibility of digital content over time. This metadata describes the digital object itself, its context, and the actions taken to preserve it.

There are several types of preservasjonsmetadata. Technical metadata describes the technical characteristics of a digital object, such as its file format, software dependencies, and encoding. Administrative metadata provides information about the rights and access to the object, including copyright, licensing, and ownership. Descriptive metadata helps in identifying and locating digital objects, similar to traditional library cataloging. Structural metadata defines the relationships between different parts of a digital object, such as chapters in a book or images within a document. Finally, preservation metadata records the actions performed on the digital object throughout its lifecycle, including migration, emulation, and checksums used to verify integrity.

Effective preservasjonsmetadata is essential for understanding how to access, interpret, and manage digital assets in the future. Without it, digital objects can become inaccessible due to technological obsolescence, loss of context, or unmanageable file formats. Standards like PREMIS (Preservation Metadata: Implementation Strategies) provide a framework for developing and managing preservasjonsmetadata, ensuring consistency and interoperability across different digital preservation systems and institutions.