Encyclopaedia Of Research On Digital Libraries: Design And Development (Digital Library Resources)

The next most pressing issue is dealing with changes in technology, technological obsolescence, the evolving software and hardware environment. To access digital publications there are specific system requirements but we must be aware how they will be affected as technology changes. A programme written for X may have difficulty running under Y for example. Software developers are not compelled to include backward compatibility. Use the knowledge gathered in recording the preservation metadata to determine what hardware and software are required by the whole collection. It is beneficial to establish whether you have the hardware and software required to provide access to your publications because this will affect your ability to preserve them. Regularly examine these requirements and be aware of impending changes in hardware and software and incorporate these needs when planning IT changes. This will help identify precise problems that can be addressed, e.g. this process should be able to pick up when a piece of hardware or software is about to go out of use and allow action to be taken before it's disappeared completely. At the Library we have implemented a list of hardware and software maintained and it is now regularly examined and used to flag potential changes in technology and to signal that various types of hardware or sotware should not be disposed of while it is still required by the collections. Collection areas and Preservation Services maintain the list, and it is regularly presented to the Information Technology section for awareness of collection needs when planning changes of hardware and software in the Library. This encyclopaedia explores innovative ideas in this subject.

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