Preservation metadata are metadata (data on data) that contain the information needed to archive and manage digital objects for the long-term and information needed to view the stored digital objects, now and in the future. A careful, complete and standardised documentation of technical metadata and information on the history of a document (origin, conversions, etc) will be an indispensable part of our digital preservation efforts.
In 2001-02, OCLC and RLG convened an expert working group, reflecting a variety of institutional and geographical backgrounds, to consider the types of information falling within the scope of preservation metadata. The group's efforts culminated in the public release of A Metadata Framework to Support the Preservation of Digital Objects, a comprehensive metadata framework describing the information necessary to carry out, document, and evaluate digital preservation processes.
Using the metadata framework as a conceptual foundation and starting point for its work, the PREMIS working group will carry forward the activities of this first working group. The focus of the PREMIS group will be on the practical aspects of implementing preservation metadata in digital preservation systems.
The PREMIS Working Group
For more information, please contact Hilde van Wijngaarden.