Preservation Imaging Strategy

A cornerstone of any comprehensive digital preservation strategy is a meticulously crafted plan for imaging. While often the first element that comes to mind when discussing digitization, it is far more complex than a simple office scanner approach. It requires strategic planning and investment.

You cannot predict the future of technology, but you can plan for it. Plan to prioritize the creation of preservation master files—high-quality, future-proof digital objects that adhere to FADGI (Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative) standards. 

Why FADGI Guidelines are Imperative:

The Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative (FADGI) provides rigorous standards for digital imaging. Adhering to these guidelines is critical for several reasons:

• Future-Proofing Your Assets: FADGI standards ensure the creation of "preservation master files"—high-quality, robust digital objects. These are designed to be "future-proof," meaning they are created with enough fidelity and technical integrity to remain usable, accessible, and convertible to future formats as technology evolves, safeguarding your legacy for "future generations yet to be born."
• Archival Integrity and Fidelity: FADGI guidelines dictate technical specifications (e.g., resolution, color depth, file formats) that capture the maximum amount of detail and accuracy from the original physical item. This commitment to detail ensures that the digital surrogate truly represents the original, preserving its informational and historical value.
• Long-Term Accessibility and Discoverability: High-quality master files are the bedrock for creating various access derivatives (like web-friendly JPGs). Without a solid master file, subsequent derivatives cannot uphold quality, impacting long-term accessibility and the potential for new discoveries.

The Downside of Quickly Creating Compressed Renditions:

• Compromised Long-Term Preservation: Quickly created JPG renditions, especially if not derived from a high-quality master, often involve significant compression and loss of data. This compromises their ability to serve as enduring archival copies, making them unsuitable for long-term preservation as they are not "future-proof."
• Inability to Re-render for Future Needs: If only low-quality JPGs are created, there is no high-fidelity source from which to generate new, better-quality derivatives as display technologies or research needs evolve. This limits future uses and interpretations of the digital asset.
• Loss of Detail and Authenticity: Compressed source files result in images that lack critical detail, accurate color, or proper archival metadata, diminishing the authenticity and scholarly value of the digital object. Such images are not "high-quality" and cannot truly "safeguard your legacy."
• Diminished Trust and Authority: Presenting collections digitized without adherence to professional standards can subtly devalue the authority of the organization. If the digital representation is visibly poor, it may call into question the care and professionalism applied to the original historical assets.

Investing in FADGI-compliant preservation imaging is not just about producing a digital image; it's about creating an enduring, high-fidelity digital surrogate that will serve as the authoritative record for generations, a goal that cannot be achieved through shortcuts or reliance solely on quickly generated, lossy formats.

Creating these high-quality preservation imaging files demands specialized training, expertise, and precision equipment. We emphasize this not to deter you, but because of our deep commitment to preserving our shared culture and ensuring access to history for not only current users but for future generations yet to be born. Investing in this process now safeguards your legacy.