The Current Situation and Development of Digital Preservation in China

1
The Current Situation and Development of Digital
Preservation in China

• Jianhai Ruan
• Visiting Scholar of GSLIS

2
Outline

• 1. Why Digital Preservation in China?
• 2. The Status of digital preservation in China
• 3. Activities of Digital Preservation in China
• 4. The Comparison of Digital Preservation between
  USA and China
• 5. The Thinking of Digital Preservation in China

3
Why Digital Preservation?

• ?China Internet Network Information Center
  (CNNIC) Releases the 23nd Statistical Report on
  the Internet Development in China (January 13,
  2009) .
• ?According to the newly released Statistical
  Repot by China Internet Network Information
  Center (CNNIC)
• By the end of December 2008, the amount of
  netizens in China had reached 298 million, it is
  the first place in the world.
• This report indicates the number of broadband
  users has reached 270 million, which also tops
  the world.
• The CNNIC also announced that, by the time of
  December 31,2008, the number of CN domain names,
  which was 13.57 million, is the largest country
  code Top-Level Domain names in the world.
• The size of netizens in China has continued to
  display the trend of rapid development.

4
Growth of Netizens in China

• Source China Internet Network Information
  CenterChina Internet Network Information Center
  http//www.cnnic.cn/en/index/

5
Internet Penetration Rate in China

• Source China Internet Network Information
  CenterChina Internet Network Information Center
  http//www.cnnic.cn/en/index/

6
Why Digital Preservation?

• ?The universal impact of digital information
  environment
• the development of the Internet and new
  information technologies propelled peoples lives
  into the digital epoch.
• ?People live in two worlds at the present time
  the real world and the virtual world.
• ?The Internet is a vast virtual world. People
  can do everything what people do in real world on
  Internet.
• ?digital societies have emerged and digital
  communities have formed of E-government,
  E-learning, E-business and E-service.

7
Why Digital Preservation?

• ?The universal impact of digital information
  environment
• Digital Life
• ?Computer and Internet are common tools of
  peoples working, living, and studying.
• ?Digital camera, digital camcorder, cell phone,
  scanner, and GPS provide people much pleasure and
  convenient.
• ?Online communities.
• ?Online games.

8
Why Digital Preservation?

• ?Vast quantities of information in digital form
• Born-digital
• Text, Images, Audio, Video, Web pages,
  Computer programs, Databases are produced,
  exchanged, and used in a variety of settings.
• Electronic publishing (includes the digital
  publication of e-books and electronic articles,
  and the development of digital libraries and
  catalogues.)
• ?Publication in print version and digital
  version.
• Electronic publishing is increasingly
  popular in works of fiction as well as with
  scientific articles.
• ?Publication in digital-only version.
• A number of journals have established
  electronic versions or even moved entirely to
  electronic publication.

9
Why Digital Preservation?

• ?Vast quantities of information in digital form
• Large-Scale Digitalization
• The paper materials are scanned and
  converted into digital form.
• For instance
• ? CALIS (China Academic Library Information
  System)
• ?The dissertation database subproject
• ?The special subject databases subproject.
• ?CADAL (China-US Million Book Digital Library
  Project)
• http//www.cadal.zju.edu.cn/

10
Large-Scale Digitization

• The goal of the Library's Large-Scale
  Digitization is to convert the Library's print
  collection into digital form in support of the
  library's long-standing commitment to make its
  collections broadly available. 
• The digitization of information resources is a
  pattern of the preservation of paper literatures.

11
Collections grid
stewardship
high
low
low
uniqueness
high
Cited from Lorcan Dempsey Terms and conditions
... libraries, subject terminologies and the web
2004 http//www.oclc.org/research/presentations/de
mpsey/dewey_20040316.ppt
12
Why Digital Preservation?

• ?Vast quantities of information in digital form
• Virtual Reality(VR)
• ?The use of VR in Heritage and Archaeology has
  enormous potential in museum and visitor centre
  applications.
• ?Virtual Reality enables heritage sites to be
  recreated extremely accurately, so that the
  recreations can be published in various media.
• ?Virtual Forbidden City 3D virtual world based
  on the Palace Museum in Beijing.
• http//www.beyondspaceandtime.org/

13
Virtual Forbidden City
14
Why Digital Preservation?

• More and more valuable information is in digital
  form.
• Universal access to information is an essential
  element of a Knowledge Society.
• Access to and dissemination of information relies
  on the stability of documents and the
  retrievability of their content.

15
Why Digital Preservation?

• Digital information faces
• The prospect of vanishing away rapidly due to
  their amorphousness and might be easily lost.
• Technical developments often result in greater
  instability and shorter lifespans of documents.
• The consequence of the fragility of digital
  storage media, as well as rapid obsolescence of
  storage and rendering environments.

16
Why Digital Preservation?

• There is a real danger that much important
  digital information will be lost through lack of
  awareness and poor planning for the future.
• The preservation of digital materials becomes an
  imperative.

17
So

• We need to think about digital preservation
  problem
• of securing the long-term persistence of
  information in digital form.
• of demonstrating its value
• and of releasing its value in the digital
  environment.
• We need to promote awareness of the importance of
  preserving digital information.
• We need to find better ways of digital
  preservation.

18
The Status of digital preservation in China
19
The Studies of Digital Preservation in China

• The studies on digital preservation in China
  began in the 1990s, but most of the studies were
  carried out by individuals, even though there
  were no funds available for studies in this area.
  
• Since 2000, the Chinese government has begun to
  pay attention to digital preservation. Some
  projects about digital preservation were funded
  by funded by the Natural Science Foundation of
  China (NSFC www.nsfc.gov.cn/) and by National
  Planning Office of Philosophy and Social Science
  (NPOPSS http//www.npopss-cn.gov.cn/).

20
Status of the preservation of digital resources
in China

• The following data cited from the paper titled
  Status of the preservation of digital resources
  in China results of a survey. Program
  electronic library and information systems, Vol.
  41, No. 1, 2007. PP35 46.
• These first-hand data shows the main challenges
  in preserving digital resources in libraries,
  archives and information centers in China .

21
Figure 1 Geographic distribution of respondents
22
The complexity of digital collections in China

• Table 2 provides an overview of the collection
  types within libraries, archives and information
  centers and it can be seen that digital pictures,
  databases and multimedia have been collected in
  all types of organization surveyed.
• The multimedia collections in archives are less
  common than in libraries and information centers.

23
The complexity of digital collections in China

• Table 3 shows the type of digital collection
  within an organisation.
• Many libraries have all three types of collection
  (digital pictures, databases and multimedia).
• In contrast with libraries, near a half of the
  archives have only two types of collection.
• Most information centres have all types.

24
The complexity of digital collections in China

• The complexity of digital collections in China is
  reflected in the variety of the digital
  collections, the storage media and the storage
  formats used.

25
Storage formats

• The main data storage formats for pictures were
  jpg, tif and pdf
• For databases, they were SQL-server, Oracle,
  Access and Sybase for databases
• For multimedia, formats such as MP3, AVI (Audio
  Video Interleave) , WAV (Waveform), RM
  (RealMedia) and RMVB (RealMedia Variable Bitrate)
  were used.
• A number of other formats were also used
  including special formats for Chinese materials
  (e.g. Fangzheng and Chaoxin) .

26
Selection of data formats
27
Selection of data formats

• The status of format selection for the same
  resources within an organization and the results
  are shown in Tables 5-7.
• To select different storage formats for the same
  type of resource within an organization is very
  common.
• The reasons may be related to the different aims
  of collection resource management, or to their
  non-standardized management within the
  organization.

28
Diversification of storage media

• Table 8 shows the range of media used for digital
  storage in libraries and archives.
• The data in libraries and archives have been
  stored on various media, such as optical disc,
  floppy disc, magnetic tape, hard disc and others.
  
• Most libraries and archives have preserved a
  great deal of information on optical discs.
• Most optical discs collected by libraries are
  electronic publications on CD-ROMs provided by
  publishers.
• The optical discs in archives are CD-Rs (i.e.
  they contain information written on to the discs,
  and archives often write the data of digitized
  collections on to these optical discs). The
  choice of media is made by staff in the archives.

29
Storage conditions for digital information

• Table 9 Storage conditions of digital collections
  in libraries, archives and information centers
  (n57)
• The Others indicated in the last column of
  Table 9 includes antimagnetic equipment,
  light-proof equipment, mildew-proof equipment and
  so on.

30
Storage conditions for digital information

• Table 9 shows overall details regarding media
  storage conditions.
• The storage conditions of most digital collection
  are good.
• Majority of media are separately kept in
  surroundings with controlled temperature and
  humidity, fireproof, waterproof and theft-proof
  equipment.

31
Storage conditions of digital media by type of
organization

• Table 10 compares the storage conditions of
  libraries with those of archives.
• It indicates that some libraries or archives
  still have some collections stored in bad
  conditions.

32
Storage conditions for digital information

• Table 11 Comparison of media storage conditions
  between libraries and archives.
• The five measures are separate storage
  air-conditioning fireproofing waterproofing and
  
• Most organizations have implemented all five
  measures at the same time, but some have not
  taken any measures
• Archives have paid more attention to media
  storage conditions than libraries.

33
Deterioration of data

• The physical deterioration of data has existed
  in (According to the responses from all
  participants).
• archives 32.1 per cent (n28)
• libraries 71.4 per cent (n21) and
• information centers 25 per cent
  (n8).
• The physical deterioration of digital data would
  appear to be universal in China and might be
  related to the high use factor.
• The physical deterioration of digital data often
  leads to some non-renewable data loss.
• The storage condition of the data is only one of
  the factors needed to keep the data physically
  intact, as improper management and maintenance
  can result in the physical deterioration of the
  data.
• The physical deterioration of digital data can be
  reduced or avoided by appropriate management
  measures.

34
Inability to read the data

• According to the investigation
• 14.3 per cent of the 28 archives and 47.6 per
  cent of the 21 libraries had not been able to
  read digital data they had preserved.
• 10.7 per cent of the archives, 33.3 per cent of
  the libraries and 12.5 per cent of the
  information centers reported having obsolete
  storage media.

35
Weak data back-up management

• Table 12 indicates that there are a few
  organizations without any back-up measures, and
  only a few adopt online back-up measures.

36
Activities of Digital Preservation in China
37
The projects of Digital Preservation

• ?Project Management Strategies of Ensuring
  Long-term Access to Digital Information
• ?Abstract
• Through surveying research materials,
  making on-the-spot inspections, and combining
  existing research, This project investigated the
  main factors that influence the long-term
  availability of digital information and proposed
  criteria for the selection and appraisal of
  sources. We also proposed policies for ensuring
  long-term access to selected digital information
  sources and suggested administrative steps for
  the maintenance of digital information using the
  document life-cycle approach.
• ?Principal Investigator
• Liu Jiazhen, Professor in the School of
  Information Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan,
  China.
• ?Funding
• (Fund NO. 701400021) , the Natural Science
  Foundation of China (NSFC www.nsfc.gov.cn/).

38
The projects of Digital Preservation

• ?Project The Strategy Study on Chinese Culture
  Digital Resource Preservation Warehouse
• ?Abstract
• This project is likely to develop
  strategies for the modification or extension of
  existing statutes, to ensure the long-term
  preservation of digital resources. It will also
  result in guidelines for information resource
  management departments to manage digital
  resources in an appropriate manner.
• ?Principal Investigator
• Liu Jiazhen, Professor in the School of
  Information Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan,
  China.
• ?Funding
• (Fund NO. 70373048), the Natural Science
  Foundation of China (NSFC www.nsfc.gov.cn/).

39
The projects of Digital Preservation

• ?Project Web Information Collection and
  Preservation (WICP)
• ?Abstract
• The National Library of China always
  attaches great importance to preservation and
  protection of all kinds of documents. Web pages
  have become a new dimensional space for social
  culture and a cultural heritage in todays world.
  This project is likely to develop strategies by
  operating an experimental web-archiving project.
  Based on results achieved from this project, NLC
  will be able to formulate policies and strategies
  for long-term preservation of digital
  information.  
• ?Principal Investigator
• National Library of China, Beijing, China.
• ?Funding
• National Library of China

40
Cooperation and Exchange
41
Sino-US Forum on Digital Preservation

• Theme Digital Information Long-term
  Maintenance and Preservation.
• Sponsors National Natural Science Foundation of
  China (NSFC) and US National Science Foundation
  (NSF).
• Organizers School of Information Management,
  Wuhan University and Institute of Archives
  science and technology.
• Time May 15-16, 2008
• Place Beijing, China.

42
Sino-US Forum

• Subjects
• 1. Government Information Resource
  Management.2. Application of OAIS in Digital
  Information Resource Management.3. Digital
  Library and Digital Archives.4. Filing and
  Long-term Preservation of Digital Records.5.
  Application of Metadata in Information Resource
  Management.

43
Chinese-European Workshop on Digital Preservation

• Sponsoring institutions
• National Science and Technology Library (NSTL) 
• National Library of China (NLC) 
• Chinese Science Digital Library of the Chinese
  Academy of Sciences (CSDL/CAS) 
• China Academic Library Information System
  (CALIS) 
• Electronic Information for Libraries (eIFL)
• Organizing institutions
• China Academic Library Information System
  (CALIS) 
• Chinese Science Digital Library of the Chinese
  Academy of Sciences (CSDL/CAS) 
• Gottingen State and University Library (SUB) 
• Austrian National Library (ANL) 
• Electronic Information for Libraries (eIFL)

44
Chinese-European Workshop on Digital Preservation

• Undertakers
• Chinese Academic Library Information
  System Chinese Science
• Digital Library of the Chinese Academy of
  Sciences
• Time July 14-16, 2004
• Location Library of Chinese Academy of Sciences,
  Beijing, China.
• TOPICS OF WORKSHOP
• Overview of issues about Digital Preservation 
• Preservation Aspects of Different Digital Object
  Types 
• Digital Preservation in the Organisational
  Context 
• A Global Infrastructure for Local Preservation 
• National and International Preservation
  Strategies and Initiatives / International
  Cooperation

45
The International Conference on the Digital
Preservation (iPRES 2007)

• Theme Digital Preservation Sustainable
  Programs and Best Practices
• Organizer the National Science and Technology
  Library of China (http//www.nstl.gov.cn)
• Undertaker
• The National Science Library, Chinese Academy
  of Sciences (http//www.las.ac.cn).
• Time October 11-12, 2007
• Place The National Science Library, Chinese
  Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

46
The International Conference on the Digital
Preservation (iPRES 2007)

• ?Subjects
• I. Management planning, administering, staffing,
  financing, certifying
• II. Operations system evaluating and selecting,
  workflow managing, and rights managing
• III. New directions in preservation service
  environments, grid, personal archives, linking
  scientific data and primary publications

47
The International Conference on the Digital
Preservation (iPRES 2009)

• ?iPRES is the series of annual international
  conferences which bring together researchers and
  practitioners from around the world to explore
  the latest trends, innovations, thinking, and
  practice in digital preservation.
• ?Following on the successful iPRES 2004 at LCAS,
  Beijing, China, iPRES 2005 at SUB, Goettingen,
  Germany, and iPRES 2006 at Cornell University,
  Ithaca, NY, U.S.A., iPRES 2007 at NSL, Beijing,
  China, iPRES 2008 at the British Library, London,
  Britain, iPRES 2009 will be organized by the
  California Digital Library (CDL) in San
  Francisco, October 5-6, 2009 at
  the Mission Bay Conference Center.

48
The International Conference on the Digital
Preservation (iPRES 2009)

• ? iPRES2009 will be the sixth in the series of
  annual international conferences that bring
  together researchers and practitioners from
  around the world to explore the latest trends,
  innovations, and practices in preserving our
  scientific and cultural heritage.
• ?The promise of digital preservation will be
  realized when it is truly integrated into the
  mainstream of digital scholarship, culture and
  commerce. iPRES2009 will continue the discussion
  of creating our digital future.

49
The International Conference on the Digital
Preservation (iPRES 2009)

•  
• ? http//www.cdlib.org/iPres/ipres2009.html

50
The Long-term Digital Preservation is attached
importance to in China

• Cultural organizations in China, such as digital
  relevant department and library, have realized
  the importance of the long-term digital
  preservation of scientific and technical
  information, and began to build the network of
  preserving digital information resources, to
  organize main scientific and technological
  information organizations to discuss and build
  the mechanism of the long-term digital
  preservation, and to develop and test the
  long-term preservation system jointly, supported
  by the Ministry of Science and Technology of
  Peoples Republic of China. (Cited and translated
  from Guangming Daily, 2007-10-25 ).

51
The Long-term Digital Preservation is attached
importance to in China

• http//www.gmw.cn/01gmrb/2007-10/25/content_688198
  .htm

52
Joint Advanced Seminar for Digital Libraries

• Teaching Objectives Advanced Professional of
  Digital Libray.
• Organizers The National Science and Technology
  Library of China (NSTL) and School of Information
  Studies, Syracuse University,USA
• Undertaker
• The National Science Library, Chinese Academy
  of Sciences
• Time One Seminar biennialy
• Place The National Science Library, Chinese
  Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

53
Joint Advanced Seminar for Digital Libraries

• This seminar is two years period. It has six
  courses. Three courses every year (estimate 80
  class hours), 10 days.
• Six courses
• First Year Introduction to Digital Libraries,
  Planning and Evaluation of Digital Library
  Services, XML in Digital Library
• Second Year Digital Resources Preservation,
  Human-computer Interaction and Digital Library,
  The Systematic Design and Application of
  Knowledge Organization.
• Certificate Certificate for Advanced Studies in
  Digital Libraries, School of Information Studies,
  Syracuse University,USA

54
The Comparison of Digital Preservation between
China and USA
55
Planning and Infrastructure

• ?National level Program in USA
• The National Digital Information Infrastructure
  and Preservation Program (NDIIPP)
  http//www.digitalpreservation.gov/
• ?Organization level in China
• National Science and Technology Library (NSTL) 
• National Library of China (NLC) 
• Chinese Science Digital Library of the Chinese
  Academy of Sciences (CSDL/CAS) 
• China Academic Library Information System
  (CALIS) 

56
Management Policy and Strategy

• ?Digital Preservation Management in Library in
  USA
• The IDEALS initiative (the Universitys
  Institutional Repository), the Preservation and
  Conservation Programs digital preservation
  management.
• http//www.library.uiuc.edu/prescons/services/digi
  tal_preservation.html
• ?Most libraries in China have not pay attention
  to digital preservation management and practice.
  

57
Education and Training

• ?In USA
• Graduate Course LIS590PDL Digital Preservation
  in GSLIS.
• Digital Preservation Management Workshop in
  Library of UIUC.
• ?In China
• There is no the course of Digital Preservation
  in most graduate school of Library and
  Information Science.

58
Projects and Cooperation

• ?The projects place extra emphasis on specific
  objectives, and multi-partners in USA.
• Preserving Creative America Preserving
  Virtual Worlds. Partners include the University
  of Maryland, Stanford University, Rochester
  Institute of Technology and Linden Lab.
• ?The projects place extra emphasis on management
  strategy, and seldom-partners in China.

59
The Thinking of Digital Preservation in China
60
Issues and Challenge

• Lacking integrated policy and strategic planning
  for long-term digital preservation.
• Lacking mandatory, effective measure and means of
  long-term digital preservation.
• Lacking policy guidance, planning coordination,
  supervise and inspect.
• Lacking systematic research and perfect scheme of
  technological orientation.
• Crucially, Lacking fund investment for digital
  preservation.

61
Conclusion

• The aim of digital preservation is to enable
  long-term storage and effective access to the
  information.
• We have known the reasons of influencing the
  development of digital preservation in China, so,
  we will try our best to do it well.
• I believe that China will make considerable
  progress in Digital Preservation.

62
Thank you!Welcome to Chongqing, China!