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Memory institutions are facing increasing transfers of electronic documents and other media content for long term preservation. Preservation models are often inspired by ISO 14721:2003, known as “the OAIS model”, where transfers and preservation are built on information packages containing both data and metadata. Metadata is normally stored in XML and specified in different schemas controlled by the community of professional curators through international organisations. Data content are normally stored in specific file formats for documents, images, sound, video etc. These files are usually produced by software from different vendors.
Even if the transferred files are in standard formats, the implementation of standards cannot be guaranteed. The software implementing standards for the production of the electronic files is not in control neither by the institutions that produces them nor by the memory institutions. Conformance tests of transfers are done, but are not totally reliable. Different software for testing could end up in different results. This poses problems in long-term preservation. Data objects meant for preservation, passing through an uncontrolled generative process, can jeopardise the whole preservation exercise.
Main objective of PREFORMA is to develop and deploy an open source software licensed reference implementation for different format standards as a tool to be used by memory organisations to check conformance with standard specifications. The PCP, following the rules for tenders in public sector, will match the memory institutions professional knowledge and the supplier’s skills in development and promotion of products and create a win-win situation. Joint procurement will enable PREFORMA to build a sustainable network of common interest, where the public procurers can remain in contact and cooperate beyond the EC funding period.
Results will be broadly disseminated during the projects life time and summed up at a final conference. |
