[SPG_Active_Members] DROID -- a tool potentially useful to CHM

Fri Sep 28 09:31:44 PDT 2007

See the attached award announcement.

Cheerio, Henry

  _____  

From: Carol Jackson [mailto:carol at dpconline.org] 
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 4:48 PM
To: diglib at infoserv.inist.fr
Subject: [DIGLIB] 2007 Digital Preservation Award Winner Announced

Accolade for new tool to save digital archives for future generations

An innovative tool to analyse and identify computer file formats has won the
2007 Digital Preservation Award. DROID, developed by The National Archives
in London, can examine any mystery file and identify its format. The tool
works by gathering clues from the internal 'signatures' hidden inside every
computer file, as well as more familiar elements such as the filename
extension (.jpg, for example), to generate a highly accurate 'guess' about
the software that will be needed to read the file.

Identifying file formats is a thorny issue for archivists. Organisations
such as the National Archives have an ever-increasing volume of electronic
records in their custody, many of which will be crucial for future
historians to understand 21st-century Britain. But with rapidly changing
technology and an unpredictable hardware base, preserving files is only half
of the challenge. There is no guarantee that today's files will be readable
or even recognisable using the software of the future.

Now, by using DROID and its big brother, the unique file format database
known as PRONOM, experts at the National Archives are well on their way to
cracking the problem. Once DROID has labelled a mystery file, PRONOM's
extensive catalogue of software tools can advise curators on how best to
preserve the file in a readable format. The database includes crucial
information on software and hardware lifecycles, helping to avoid the
obsolescence problem. And it will alert users if the program needed to read
a file is no longer supported by manufacturers.

PRONOM's system of identifiers has been adopted by the UK government and is
the only nationally-recognised standard in its field.

The judges chose The National Archives from a strong shortlist of five
contenders, whittled down from the original list of thirteen. The
prestigious award was presented in a special ceremony at The British Museum
on 27 September 2007 as part of the 2007 Conservation Awards, sponsored by
Sir Paul McCartney.

Ronald Milne, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Digital Preservation
Coalition, which sponsors the award, said:

"The National Archives fully deserves the recognition that accompanies this
award."

Notes to Editors;

*	The £5000 Digital Preservation Award is sponsored by the Digital
Preservation Coalition. This prestigious award recognises achievement and
encourages innovation in the new and challenging field of digital
preservation - simply put; preserving things whose very existence depends on
computers. 

*	The Digital Preservation Coalition was established in 2001 to foster
joint action to address the urgent challenges of securing the preservation
of digital resources in the UK and to work with others internationally to
secure our global digital memory and knowledge base. For further
information, see www.dpconline.org 

*	The Conservation Awards are the UK's leading awards for the
preservation of cultural heritage. They are sponsored by Sir Paul McCartney
and supported by key organisations in conservation and collections care: the
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), English Heritage, the
Institute of Conservation (Icon), the Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC)
and the National Preservation Office (NPO). 

*	For more information on the other short listed partnerships, see
www.conservationawards.org.uk 

*	Details of the 2007 judges are available online at
www.dpconline.org/graphics/awards/2007panel.html 

*	The National Archives is at the heart of information policy -
setting standards and supporting innovation in information and records
management across the UK, and providing a practical framework of best
practice for opening up and encouraging the re-use of public sector
information. This work helps inform today´s decisions and ensure that they
become tomorrow´s permanent record. The National Archives is also the
official archive for England, Wales and the central UK government,
containing 900 years of history from Domesday Book to the present, with
records ranging from parchment and paper scrolls through to recently created
digital files and archived websites. Increasingly, these records are being
put online, making them universally accessible. For more information, see
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk <http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/>  

The 2007 Judging Panel were;

Kevin Ashley (Chair of the Judging Panel), Head of Digital Archives
Department, University of London Computer Centre.

Michael Day, Research Officer at UKOLN, University of Bath.

Helen Hockx-Yu, Programme Manager, Joint Information Systems Committee
(JISC).

William Kilbride, Research Manager, Glasgow Museums.

Andreas Rauber, Associate Professor, Department of Software Technology and
Interactive Systems (IFS), The Vienna University of Technology.

Chris Rusbridge, Director, Digital Curation Centre (DCC).

Helen Shenton, Head of Collection Care, the British Library.

Dave Thompson, Digital Curator, Wellcome Library.

For further information about the DPC and the Digital Preservation Award
contact Carol Jackson on 01904 435 362.

>From the DPC Press Release;
<http://www.dpconline.org/graphics/advocacy/press/award2007.html>
http://www.dpconline.org/graphics/advocacy/press/award2007.html

****************************************************************************
*********************************************************

Carol Jackson
Administration Manager
Digital Preservation Coalition
Innovation Centre
York Science Park
Heslington
YO10 5DG

e-mail: carol at dpconline.org
tel: +44 (0) 1904 435 362
https: www.dpconline.org 

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