Preservation
Preservation is an important part of any collection, and the digital resources in this collection will face several key preservation issues. One important issue is the accessibility of our website and the resources contained within it. The website software must be kept up to date so that it is accessible in all website browsers, as well as mobile devices. Mobile device access is especially important for our primary users, as teenagers are very likely to access the Web through devices such as tablets and smartphones. In order to ensure access, the website design will be simple and minimal, so that when it is scaled down for smaller screens it will be uncluttered and readable. In addition, we will prioritize what appears on the homepage of the website because mobile users tend to browse less than desktop users. Making the essential information (search bar and most popular resources) accessible from the homepage will reduce the effort and time needed to browse and navigate the site (Boyd). Our team will conduct usability testing with a range of various smartphones and tablets to ensure the website is designed correctly for many different mobile platforms.
For users with disabilities, the website coding and software must be compatible with current screen reading and other technologies that allow all users to see or hear the information on the website in some fashion. We will use the concepts of universal design when creating the website and consider how different types of users will access and utilize the site. In addition, our website design will comply with the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Michigan accessibility laws. To ensure that information within the website is easy to find for users, proper metadata will be implemented through Dublin Core elements.
Perhaps one of the largest preservation issues this collection faces is obsolete or dead links to other webpages, as most websites have very short lifespans, and information that was previously public could be moved behind paywalls at any time (Kastellec). Since many of our resources have been curated from sites across the web that the Library does not control, these sites could easily become defunct, remove the linked resources, or install some type of paywall. In one study, roughly 67% of URLs of a sample set were broken after a four year time period, a statistic that would is problematic for a collection of web-based resources such as ours (Nelson). In order to ensure that these resources are kept usable and up-to-date, a librarian or other staff member will need to frequently test the links, and fix or update them as needed.
Technology is constantly changing at a rapid pace, so this website and it's resources must be convertible and flexible. Foreseeable updates and changes could include adapting to new browser requirements, updating file formats, and mitigation to new servers. The Library's decision to use Dublin Core elements will help alleviate this problem, as the metadata will contain records of the technical context and how it has been changed. This will make it easier for future versions of hardware/software to manipulate and display the digital resources (Beaudoin). We have decided to store our digital collection on the cloud, because we believe this will provide more dependable access and maintenance than Library servers and IT staff can provide. However, longer-term preservation of the website may require migration to a different host server organization or to the Library's servers.
Text on Preservation by Victoria
Sources:
Beaudoin, J. E. (2012). "Context and its role in the digital preservation of cultural objects". D-Lib Magazine 18(11/12).
Boyd, Andy (2009). "Thirteen tips to improve your site's accessibility from mobile devices". Fuel Your Creativity. Web. 19 Nov 2013. http://www.fuelyourcreativity.com/13-tips-to-improve-your-sites-accessibility-from-mobile-devices/
Kastellec, M. (2012). "Practical limits to the scope of digital preservation". Information Technology and Libraries 31(2).
Nelson, Michael1, [email protected], et al. "Using The Web Infrastructure To Preserve Web Pages." International Journal On Digital Libraries 6.4 (2007): 327-349.
Preservation is an important part of any collection, and the digital resources in this collection will face several key preservation issues. One important issue is the accessibility of our website and the resources contained within it. The website software must be kept up to date so that it is accessible in all website browsers, as well as mobile devices. Mobile device access is especially important for our primary users, as teenagers are very likely to access the Web through devices such as tablets and smartphones. In order to ensure access, the website design will be simple and minimal, so that when it is scaled down for smaller screens it will be uncluttered and readable. In addition, we will prioritize what appears on the homepage of the website because mobile users tend to browse less than desktop users. Making the essential information (search bar and most popular resources) accessible from the homepage will reduce the effort and time needed to browse and navigate the site (Boyd). Our team will conduct usability testing with a range of various smartphones and tablets to ensure the website is designed correctly for many different mobile platforms.
For users with disabilities, the website coding and software must be compatible with current screen reading and other technologies that allow all users to see or hear the information on the website in some fashion. We will use the concepts of universal design when creating the website and consider how different types of users will access and utilize the site. In addition, our website design will comply with the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Michigan accessibility laws. To ensure that information within the website is easy to find for users, proper metadata will be implemented through Dublin Core elements.
Perhaps one of the largest preservation issues this collection faces is obsolete or dead links to other webpages, as most websites have very short lifespans, and information that was previously public could be moved behind paywalls at any time (Kastellec). Since many of our resources have been curated from sites across the web that the Library does not control, these sites could easily become defunct, remove the linked resources, or install some type of paywall. In one study, roughly 67% of URLs of a sample set were broken after a four year time period, a statistic that would is problematic for a collection of web-based resources such as ours (Nelson). In order to ensure that these resources are kept usable and up-to-date, a librarian or other staff member will need to frequently test the links, and fix or update them as needed.
Technology is constantly changing at a rapid pace, so this website and it's resources must be convertible and flexible. Foreseeable updates and changes could include adapting to new browser requirements, updating file formats, and mitigation to new servers. The Library's decision to use Dublin Core elements will help alleviate this problem, as the metadata will contain records of the technical context and how it has been changed. This will make it easier for future versions of hardware/software to manipulate and display the digital resources (Beaudoin). We have decided to store our digital collection on the cloud, because we believe this will provide more dependable access and maintenance than Library servers and IT staff can provide. However, longer-term preservation of the website may require migration to a different host server organization or to the Library's servers.
Text on Preservation by Victoria
Sources:
Beaudoin, J. E. (2012). "Context and its role in the digital preservation of cultural objects". D-Lib Magazine 18(11/12).
Boyd, Andy (2009). "Thirteen tips to improve your site's accessibility from mobile devices". Fuel Your Creativity. Web. 19 Nov 2013. http://www.fuelyourcreativity.com/13-tips-to-improve-your-sites-accessibility-from-mobile-devices/
Kastellec, M. (2012). "Practical limits to the scope of digital preservation". Information Technology and Libraries 31(2).
Nelson, Michael1, [email protected], et al. "Using The Web Infrastructure To Preserve Web Pages." International Journal On Digital Libraries 6.4 (2007): 327-349.