Digital preservation inventory template for cultural heritage institutions

See also: Digital Preservation Toolkit

This digital preservation inventory template can be used by cultural heritage institutions to take stock of the digital resources currently held. Such resources could be administrative documents, digital photographs of the institution’s holdings, or collections management records. Taking stock of this material is generally done during the scoping stage of a digital preservation project, where the activity helps project managers identify the degree of need for a digital preservation plan, and to determine how much work is involved. See Framework for a Digital Preservation Plan for further details on how this and other documents are used as part of your institution’s digital preservation activities.

CHIN would like to thank Yvette Hackett, Louise Renaud, Gordon Carter, Tania Aldred, Paul Durand, and Tim Mark for their contributions to this document.

Excel version of this template

Download Excel Version Here.

How to use this template

Section A of the inventory template: Summary of Digital Asset Groups helps identify specific groups of digital assets held by your organization. This section needs to be completed once only.

A digital asset is a single computer file, or group of computer files, the content of which is valuable to your organization. Examples include:

  1. any artefact originally created and acquired in digital form (born digital) such as a digital photograph, digital video or computer game;
  2. any digital copy of an artefact for which your organization does not hold the original (such as a digitized copy of an analog photograph);
  3. a digital copy of an artefact, where your organization holds both the original physical artefact (such as a sculpture or a diary) and the copy (whether created by scanning or photographing an object with a digital camera);
  4. a copy of the computer file(s) containing your organization’s collections management system; or
  5. digital material created by your organization which must be maintained for long periods of time, such as audio guides, acquisition files, intellectual property agreements, contracts or correspondence with donors.

A digital asset group consists of all digital assets used for a specific purpose, having the same (or similar) file format(s), being used by the same (or similar) software, and being used in the same way, etc… for instance, a single record from a collections management system in the institution represents a digital asset, whereas the collections management database constitutes a digital asset group. Likewise, a single record within a Collections Management System represents a digital asset, and the entire inventory within that system could be considered a digital asset group.

Section B of the Inventory Template: Detailed Information For Each Asset Group provides more information for each digital asset group, and it should be completed for each group identified. In general, while filling out section B, answers to all questions for a given group should (for the most part) be the same.

If several questions require multiple answers for the same group, you should consider dividing the group and filling out section B for each newly divided group.

For example: If you have intangible heritage multimedia (video and audio recordings) that is originally classified as one Asset Group, and it becomes apparent that the way in which the audio and video files are treated, used or stored is different, you should divide the group into two new groups: Intangible Heritage-Audio and Intangible Heritage-Video.

To use the template, either print it to be completed by hand, or cut-and-paste it into a word processor of your choice.

Inventory template section A: Summary of digital asset groups

Identify all groups of digital assets held by your institution. Include a brief description for each, as well as the approximate number of assets in each group, and the approximate amount of file space required to store the entire group.

Summary of digital asset groups in your institution – to be completed by institution staff.
Name of Digital Asset GroupBrief Description of Group

(i.e. what is the group used for, how does it differ from similar identified groups).

Approximate Number of Digital Assets in the GroupApproximate Amount of File Space Required to Store GroupMinimum Number of Copies of Assets in this Group (if multiple copies are kept)
(add rows as required)

Inventory template section B: Detailed information for each digital asset group

For each of the digital assets identified in Section A, complete the lists and tables below. Remember to divide assets into multiple groups if a group is not sufficiently homogeneous to answer questions easily.

Ease of replacement

How easily can digital assets in this group be replaced in case of loss? Check all that apply.

  • Can be replaced easily in case of loss.
  • Cannot be replaced.
  • Replacement involves re-digitization, which would be difficult, expensive and/or harmful to the original.
  • Replacement involves re-digitization, which would be fairly easily done from the same source material.
  • Do not know the degree of difficulty for replacement

If more than one is checked above, explain why:

Consequence / Impact of loss

Indicate the likely impact on the institution should a lost digital asset within this group not be recoverable. Check all that apply.

  • Suspected impact to the institution would be great (legal ramifications, reputation, etc..).
  • Suspected impact to the institution would be moderate (some negative outcome).
  • It is suspected that there would be no impact to the institution.
  • Cannot estimate the impact to the institution.

If more than one is checked above, explain why:

Estimated years required to preserve

How many years are assets within this group expected to be preserved? Check all that apply.

  • Assets are expected to be preserved indefinitely.
  • More than 20 years.
  • More than 10 years.
  • More than 5 years
  • 1 to 5 years
  • Less than one year.
  • There is no need to preserve digital assets in this group.

If more than one is checked above, explain why:

Frequency of access

How often are digital assets within this group accessed? Check all that apply.

  • Daily
  • Weekly
  • Monthly
  • Annually
  • There is no regular access to assets in this group.

If more than one is checked above, explain why:

Access permission

Who should have accesses these digital assets? Check all that apply.

  • Everyone
  • External stakeholders identified by the Institution
  • Everyone within the Institution
  • Specific individuals within the Institution

If more than one is checked above, explain why:

Physical carriers / Physical format

Identify the types and approximate number of physical carriers (that is, physical storage formats) on which this group of digital assets is stored. When known, also include the approximate age of physical carriers themselves based on when they were purchased.

For example:

  • your organization has 200 CD-Rs (recordable CDs) that were produced in-house between 1999 and 2001
  • each CD is filled very close to capacity (700 MB), so the amount of data stored would be 140,000 MB (200 CDs x 700 MB per CD)
  • all the CDs would be between 10 and 12 years old.

The chart below would be filled in as follows:

Physical carrier (year introduced)No. of physical itemsApprox. size in MBApprox. age (in years) of carriers

(Example) CD-R

200 140 000 12
Magnetic storage formats
7 or 9 track magnetic tape (1952)
8” floppy diskette (1972)
5.25” floppy diskette (1976)
3.5” diskette (1982)
8 mm Digital Audio Tape (DAT) cartridge (1987)
4 mm Digital Audio Tape (DAT) cartridge (1987)
Iomega Zip disk - 100 MB (1995)
Iomega Zip disk - 250 MB (1998)
Iomega Zip disk - 750 MB (2002)
LTO (Linear Tape Open) 1 - 100 GB (2000)
LTO (Linear Tape Open) 2 - 200 GB (2003)
LTO (Linear Tape Open) 3 - 400 GB (2004)
LTO (Linear Tape Open) 4 - 800 GB (2007)
LTO (Linear Tape Open) 5 - 1.5 TB (2010)
Optical storage formats
10 or 12” optical discs (1979)
5.25” magneto-optical discs (1985)
3.5” magneto-optical discs (1985)
Kodak Photo-CD system (1992)
CD-ROM (containing Read-Only content) (1988)
CD-R (write-once, produced in-house) (1995)
CD-RW (multiple write, produced in-house) (1997)
DVD-ROM (containing Read-Only content) (1997)
DVD-R (write-once, produced in-house) (1997)
DVD-RW (multiple write, produced in-house) (1999)
Blu-Ray BD-ROM (containing Read-Only content) (2006)
Blu-Ray BD-R (write-once, produced in-house) (2006)
Blu-Ray BD-RE (multiple write, produced in-house (2006)
Hard disk drives (HDD)
internal hard drive (1973)
external hard drive (1998)
network space – shared
network space - personal
Web server
Flash-based memory
USB flash drives (such as ThumbDrive (1998), DiskOnKey (2000), jump drive, pen drive, data key)
Memory cards (such as PC Cards (1991), CompactFlash (1994), SmartMedia (1995), MultiMediaCard (1997), SDCard (2001), miniSD (2003), Memory Stick (2003), microSD (2005)
Other (please specify)

Location and environmental conditions

Identify the location(s) and environmental conditions at which assets in this group are stored. Please check all that apply.

Regular office environmentSpecialized environment
(temperature generally in the vicinity of 17°C to 23°C (+/- 2°C) and a relative humidity of 20% to 30% (+/- 5 %)
Warehouse / Other

Indicate any extreme conditions to which physical carriers may be subjected.

Don’t know location / conditions
1. Network server room (for shared drive, personal drive or Web server space controlled by your organization)
2. Dedicated vault or storage space
3. Regular office space (stored on computer hard drives, or as items stored on shelves)
4. Off-site storage (such as a record centre, cloud storage, trusted digital repository, or other type of institutional repository)
5. Other (please specify)

File format / File type

Identify the types of digital file formats that are found in this group of digital assets. Also, for each type of digital file format used in this group of assets, please indicate the approximate date of creation and current readability if known.

If the file type is unknown, select “Other” and indicate the software that accesses this asset. Select all that apply.

Table to identify file formats for digital assets – to be completed by staff for each digital asset group in your institution
Digital file format typesName and Version of Software Used to Create or Last Modify the FileDate range files createdStill readable?

1. Word Processing (such as .txt, .doc, .docx, .rtf, .wpd, .odf, .lwp, .pdf, .pdf/a)

All
Most
Some
None
Don’t know

2. Email (such as mime, msg, .pst)

All
Most
Some
None
Don’t know

3. Presentation (such as .ppt, .pptx, .shw, .prz)

All
Most
Some
None
Don’t know

4. Spreadsheet (such as .xls, .xlsx, .123, .wk1, .wk2, .qpw)

All
Most
Some
None
Don’t know

5. Still image (such as .jpg, .jp2, .png, .tiff, .gif, RAW formats, .dng)

All
Most
Some
None
Don’t know

6. Audio (such as .wav, .mp3, .sma, mpeg-1, mpeg-2, mpeg-4 AAC, aiff, .wma bwf, MIDI)

All
Most
Some
None
Don’t know

7. Video (such as jpeg2000 MXF, Motion JPEG 2000, .avi, mpeg-2, mpeg-4, .mov, .wmv)

All
Most
Some
None
Don’t know

8. Markup language (such as sgml, html, xhtml, xml)

All
Most
Some
None
Don’t know

9. Database (such as dbf, fp7, acc, csv, siard)

All
Most
Some
None
Don’t know

10. Statistical data (such as sas, spss, ddi, DExT, sdmx)

All
Most
Some
None
Don’t know

11. Geospatial data (such as CCOGIF, dem, dig-3, E00, SHP, IHO)

All
Most
Some
None
Don’t know

12. Computer Aided Design (CAD) (such as .dxf, .cgm, .xmi)

All
Most
Some
None
Don’t know

13. Source code and/or executable files (such as .exe)

All
Most
Some
None
Don’t know

14. Retail - Sales data (such as data collect or electronic journals)

All
Most
Some
None
Don’t know

15. Retail - Store Inventory

All
Most
Some
None
Don’t know

16. Other (please specify)

All
Most
Some
None
Don’t know

File naming

How are file names constructed for digital assets in this group? Check all that apply.

Table to identify how file names are constructed for digital assets – to be completed by staff for each digital asset group in your institution
YesNoDon’t know
1. File names selected by the file creator on a case-by-case basis
2. Many naming systems, developed on a project-by-project basis
3. Consistent and standardized naming system, developed in-house
4. Filenames are designated by an application, not people (point of sales data for instance).
5. Persistent, formal identifier systems (such as ARK, DOI, PURL and XRI)
6. Other (please specify)

Directory Structures

Computer files are generally organized in directory and sub-directory structures. Sometimes, the organization of this storage system is left to the file creator; in other cases, the hierarchy of directory and sub-directory names is established by the organization. How are files in this asset group organized?

Structured data
YesNoDon’t know
1. Database records with digital objects attached or linked
2. Data tagged in a mark-up language (such as XML) with digital objects linked
3. Other (please specify)
Unstructured data
YesNoDon’t know
1. Chronological directory structure, based on date of creation of the digital asset
2. Directory structure by file format (for example, word processing, images, audio, etc.)
3. Directory structure, developed on a project-by-project basis
4. Directory structure based on the organization’s file classification system
5. Other (please specify)

Security

What security measures are in place to protect this group of digital assets? Check all that apply.

Physical security
YesNoDon’t know
1. area locked, but accessible to all staff
2. area locked and access restricted to approved staff only
3. intruder alarm
4. other (please specify)
System security
YesNoDon’t know
1. password protection
2. firewall
3. virus protection
4. user access restrictions (profiles)
5. other (please specify)
Digital asset security
YesNoDon’t know
1. calculation of checksum

A checksum is the result of a mathematical calculation based on the content of a computer file. Any subsequent change in the value of the checksum indicates that the content of the file has been altered.

2. encryption
3. other (please specify)
Circulation
YesNoDon’t know
1. you control circulation of preservation copies outside the storage area

A preservation copy is a computer file(s) in a digital format stored on a physical carrier, which together provide the highest quality, most complete and most reliable version of the digital asset.

2. you allow consultation only through access copies

An access copy is a computer file in a digital format and on a physical carrier which was selected to facilitate access by a researcher.

3. other (please specify)

Copyright clearance

Do you have the right to copy and/or convert assets in this group for preservation purposes? Circle one of the following:

  • All Files
  • Most Files
  • Some Files
  • No Files
  • Don’t know

Preservation measures

Does your organization take any of the following measures to protect this group of digital assets? Check all that apply.

Table to identify measures taken to preserve digital assets – to be completed by staff for each digital asset group in your institution]
Preservation measuresYesNoDon’t know
1. Make backup copies on a regular basis (files made using some type of backup utility, and paired with a restore function).
2. Make preservation copies, in addition to or instead of, backup copies.
3. Use more than one type and/or brand of physical storage format to protect against format failure
4. Maintain stable storage conditions, allowing only minor variations in temperature and relative humidity (see also Question 3).
5. Store preservation copies in two geographically separate storage locations, in case of fire, flood, earthquake, etc.
6. Maintain the computer hardware required to read each type of physical carrier storing your digital assets.
7. Maintain operating software (O/S) and programs (such as MS Word, or Corel WordPerfect) necessary to read all the file formats represented in your digital assets.
8. Inspect preservation copies at regular intervals to verify physical condition.
9. Read preservation copies at regular intervals to confirm their continued readability.
10. Update the physical carrier to maintain access on current equipment.
11. Convert the file format to maintain access using current operating systems and/or software (such as a WordPerfect format (.wpd) to a Portable Document format (.pdf)).
12. Other (please specify).

Contact information for this web page

This resource was published by the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN). For comments or questions regarding this content, please contact CHIN directly. To find other online resources for museum professionals, visit the CHIN homepage or the Museology and conservation topic page on Canada.ca.

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