1. Better than it was
Finding what works for processing born-digital archives at the Bentley Historical Library
Mike Shallcross
U-M Bentley Historical Library
GVSU –

2. Digital Curation Division
3/14/2014
Digital Curation Division
Formed April 2011
Reports to Director of Bentley Historical Library
Staffing:
April 2011: 2 FTE, 1 grad student
March 2014: 4 FTE, 3 grad students
Responsibilities include:
Web archives
Digitization projects
Transfer and ingest of born digital archives

3. Obligatory OAIS Reference
3/14/2014
Obligatory OAIS Reference

4. “Ingest” at the Bentley
3/14/2014
“Ingest” at the Bentley
Goal: creation of Archival Information Packages (AIP)
AKA “Digital Processing” (increased staff buy-in)
Encompasses traditional archival functions:
Appraisal
Intellectual Arrangement
Description
Requires steps to ensure authenticity, integrity, and security of content:
Establish intellectual control and integrity of content
Perform preservation actions
Metadata creation (descriptive, administrative, preservation)
Development of workflows/procedures: highly iterative

5. 3/14/2014
Once Upon a Time ( )…
1997: James Duderstadt papers (former U-M President)
Transfer included his personal computer with files
Item level processing & description
Removable media: stayed in folders
Non media-based digital transfers:
Often individual items (i.e., U-M publications)
Minimal processing

6. Standardizing Procedures (2010-2011)
31 Octoberr 2012
Standardizing Procedures ( )
M Project ( ): Mellon Foundation grant
Reviewed literature and relevant projects (PARADIGM, AIMS, Archivematica, etc.)
Defined requirements based on local needs and resources
Developed manual workflow; successful, but…
40 discrete steps: highly labor intensive & difficult to train staff
20+ numerous software applications
Strict conventions for naming/saving log files and metadata
Numerous opportunities for user error

7. 3/14/2014

8. 3/14/2014
Working Smarter ( )…
Inspired by the Archivematica Digital Preservation System and the National Archives of Australia’s Digital Preservation Software Platform (DPSP)
Attempted to address issues with manual workflow by automating workflow steps
Proof of concept: creation of preservation copies
Expanded to other steps
Introduced complete prototype in early 2012: the AutomatedProcessor (AutoPro)

9. 3/14/2014

10. AutoPro: Overview Comprised of 31 Windows CMD.EXE and VBS scripts
3/14/2014
AutoPro: Overview
Comprised of 31 Windows CMD.EXE and VBS scripts
Guides processors through 9 step workflow (manual and automated steps) with single interface for 20+ apps/utilities
Documents all actions and modifications (if any):
Log files for all operations
Produces a PREMIS preservation metadata file
Used to successfully process over 160 deposits of digital materials (including deposits of more than 45,000 files/100 GB), but…
Limited error-handling and functionality with shell scripts
Command-line interface is still relatively labor intensive

11. Storage and Access: DSpace
3/14/2014
Storage and Access: DSpace
U-M Institutional Repository (Deep Blue)
Not designed for digital archives
Limited access functionality
BHL unable to implement its own repository (limited IT/$$$)
U-M Library provides IT support and preservation expertise
Additional copy of AIP deposited in dark archives (secure Windows storage managed by central IT)

12. 3/14/2014
Next Steps ( )….
Mellon Foundation Grant proposal: “ArchivesSpace, Archivematica, and DSpace Workflow Implementation”
Develop conventions and functionality to permit transfer of data/metadata among ArchivesSpace, Archivematica, and DSpace
Create metadata once; reuse in multiple systems
Streamline deposit of content in preservation repository
Share code, procedures, and documentation with community
Enhance preservation functionality of DSpace

13. 3/14/2014
Thank You!
AutoPro iPRES Paper/Poster:
Digital Processing Manual: