Data Preservation Best Practices for preserving your research data for future reuse The goal of data preservation is to ensure that your data is in a sustainable format that can be accessed and reused at some point in the future.

2 Basics for digital data preservation Locate everything to be saved Transfer from older media Create a directory Decide what to keep Organize the files Save copies in different places & on different media Manage the collections

3 Locate everything to be saved Locate all of your data Transfer from older media - floppy disks, cassettes, 8- tracks, CDs, DVDs, magnetic tape Download data from social media sites, s, file- sharing sites, and cloud storage Transfer files from cameras and phones Collect it in one place

4 Create a directory Document everything that you identified or downloaded to a central location when you located your data. file name(s) location source (if it is still in the original location) media type Create a directory file that lists all of the content. It can be a paper list or a digital file, or both. Update it frequently. it to yourself, and store a copy with the content.

5 Decide what to keep Which research data should I preserve? Obligation to keep it for sharing or reuse Verification of the research Value of the data Uniqueness of the data Raw (primary) or processed (secondary) data General historical research (heritage)

6 Organize the files How should I identify my data files? Descriptive file names Consistency Identify different versions clearly Simple folder names Include date/time information Predictable

7 Save copies in several locations Keep copies in different places & on different media Backup your data Duplication Different formats Location, location, location Rule: 3 copies, 2 media types, 1 copy offsite Threat zones

8 Managing the collections How do I actively manage my research data? Visit your data often Migrate to newer media Migrate to newer formats Migrate to newer software Verify data consistency Keep your directory up to date

9 The UVa Library Research Data Services provides consulting and training services to UVA researchers and graduate students in all aspects of research data management. We can help you navigate and negotiate through the tricky issues and many approvals in order to responsibly share your research data. Contact us at Need assistance or have questions?