2023 - November and December - page 31
Image details
| Issue number | 395 |
|---|---|
| ISSN | 2632-7171 |
| Publication date | 1st November 2023 |
| Transcription |
magazine Industry News A chat with ChatGPT on the difference between backup and digital preservation Out of curiosity, I asked chatGPT what the difference between backup and digital preservation is. It came up with this analogy: "Think of digital data like a rare and valuable book in a library. A backup is like making photocopies of that book regularly. It ensures that if the original book is damaged, lost, or stolen, you have a copy that's relatively recent. Backups are like having spare copies on hand for quick access. IT professionals are great at managing these copies efficiently, making sure they are up-to-date and easily retrievable. On the other hand, digital preservation is like being an archivist responsible for ensuring the book's survival and accessibility for generations. You're not just making copies; you're taking special measures to protect the original book and its copies over a very long time. This involves carefully storing the book in a controlled environment, documenting its history and significance, and occasionally restoring it or creating new copies in updated formats to keep it relevant and accessible. Digital preservation requires a more in-depth, long-term perspective, much like preserving historical records or artefacts. Community News magazine Archive Research Centre opens at Lancaster University The Archive Research Centre (ARC) has recently opened at Lancaster University as a bespoke research space for staff, students and visitors to access the special collections and archives. The new space will be a single contact point for researchers who want to access both the University’s institutional collection alongside library and archive collections assembled by Lancaster since 1963. Previously the collections have not been used to their full potential and the new space will help the service expand their activities and widen participation. Katie Waring, Special Collections and Archives Manager, said: “I’m a great believer that archives are for everyone, and we will use the ARC to address the misconception that heritage collections can only be used for historical research. ARC will be open to individuals and groups to interact with our collections as well the wider community in the local area and beyond.” Marion McClintock, Honorary Archivist, added: “The most exciting aspect of the new space is being able to offer visitors high-quality working conditions, combined with ready access to the materials they need, when they are consulting the Archive.” In IT terms, backups are about data recovery in the short term, while digital preservation is about data stewardship and ensuring its availability and usability over the long term, even in a changing technological landscape." I asked it if this was a quote or if it was something it made up. It said: "I created the analogy provided in my previous response to help explain the difference between backup and digital preservation. It is not a direct quote from a specific source but rather a conceptual explanation based on common understanding." I thought this was pretty impressive stuff. Has anyone heard this analogy before? Adam Harwood (human) Research Data & Digital Preservation Technologist University of Sussex Collections on display in the Archive Research Centre at Lancaster University. © Lancaster University Library 31 |