Scalable born digital ingest workflows for limited resources: A case study for first steps in digital preservation

Abstract

This article seeks to provide an example of a scalable and achievable born digital ingest workflow for cultural heritage institutions of any size, including those with limited funding. Like many small archives, the University of Idaho (U of I) Library Special Collections and Archives (SPEC) has accepted born digital material when it arrives as part of analog collections for the last 20 years. However, the Library has faced numerous challenges similar to those of other small institutions when developing workflows for born digital preservation and ingest. These include lack of funding, systems, and policies. Despite a growing number of resources that support digital preservation work, among current best practices it is difficult to find scalable workflows for institutions with limited staff and funds. By implementing accessible open-source software and prioritizing preservation tasks, U of I Library has developed a low-cost way to implement systems for digital preservation with responsibilities that can be spread out among librarians and archivists with varying technical expertise.