Studies FY2009
The themes of studies FY2009 are as follows:
(1) Questionnaire Survey on the Digitization of Audio-Visual Materials and Long-term Preservation of Digital Information
A questionnaire survey was conducted from January 21 to February 19, 2010 to ask about the status of digitization of analog audio-visual materials and efforts for long-term preservation of digital information in domestic and foreign institutions.
Survey sheets were sent to forty leading domestic and foreign institutions playing a leading role such as national libraries, national archives, national film archives, university libraries and broadcasting corporations. Twenty institutions including the NDL responded to this survey.
For more information, please see the brief report.
(2) Research on Permanent Storage Media and System of Digital Information
To realize a large-scale digital archiving system including the NDL Digital Archiving system, the NDL conducted the following research.
Study on requirements for a large-scale system to archive digital information
This study clarified requirements for a large-scale digital archiving system, especially for digital recording media and their devices, such as data storage capacity and throughput time.
Based on the results, issues to be addressed toward the practical use of the system were examined.
Comparison survey on the specifications of digital recording media
The existing digital recording media including magnetic media, optical media and semiconductor memories were compared in terms of the long-term usability and preservation, based on the information resources such as authoritative literature.
This result showed a sealed semiconductor memory device using Mask ROM was the most suitable recording media for the purpose of long-term usability.
Preliminary study on specifications of a sealed semiconductor memory device using Mask ROM for permanent storage media
Based on the results of the comparison survey, the performance requirements of the sealed semiconductor memory device using Mask ROM, such as a communication protocol and a power-supply method, were defined.
The feasibility of the media was also assessed by designing a circuit and producing a sample chip.
Building a prototype system with the sealed semiconductor memory using Mask ROM
Based on the result of the feasibility assessment, a prototype system with sealed semiconductor memory devices using Mask ROM was designed and developed to preserve and access digital information for a long time.
Evaluation and review of the prototype system
The prototype system was reviewed and the issues regarding practical use were clarified.
The major findings of the study can be summarized as follows:
(3) Research on the specifications of the digital preservation system based on the OAIS
The following functions are needed to ensure the long-term preservation and accessibility of digital information:
To develop a digital preservation system with the above-mentioned functions compliant with the Reference Model for an Open Archival Information System (OAIS)[*], the NDL made a prototype system and experimented with it.
[*] Conceptual model of elements and functional requirements for archiving information. ISO 14721:2003
Research on basic technologies required for digital preservation system
Based on information resources such as reliable literature on the Internet, detailed research was conducted on the basic technologies of existing tools, free and open source software (FOSS) and commercial digital repository systems.
Research on technical information about file formats
The technical information about file formats which were/had been available in Japan was researched based, for example, on reliable information resources on the Internet.
Building a prototype format registry
A format registry managing the technical information about file formats, software products and other technical components required to support long-term access to digital information was prototyped.
A unique automatic tool to identify file formats and obsolescence detection function were developed and implemented into this prototype with the existing identification tools.
The major findings of the study can be summarized as follows:
* To achieve the practical use of a digital preservation system, it is necessary to approach the following issues.
* To save the cost of collecting and managing information on file formats, it is necessary to share the information about file formats, existing tools to identify file formats or codec with their developers and to establish an environment to ensure the reliability of the information.
* It is more efficient to examine and actively adopt existing proven tools than to develop one's own system.
* It is important to keep up on the related tools and systems and to consider a framework to use actively the information provided by the related institutions.
Other FY2009 activities
- A Staff member of the NDL participated in the 6th International Conference on Preservation of Digital Objects (iPRES 2009) in San Francisco in October 2009.
- The NDL co-hosted the "International Symposium on Preservation of Digital Resources and Longevity of Digital Archives" with the Research Center for Knowledge Communities University of Tsukuba on February 19th, 2010.