Digital Preservation: How can we help you?
KAUST Digital Archival Services
Legacy Data Recovery Service
The KAUST University Archives is launching a pilot service designed to identify, assess, recover, and preserve valuable legacy data. As technology moves forward and our older digital hardware devices age we run the risk of losing access to valuable data. Hardware and format obsolescence is one of the main challenges archivists face when tasked with preserving archival digital data.
In early 2021, the KAUST University Library procured a digital forensics workstation which is specifically designed to securely access data from legacy hardware. We have the ability to access, image and retrieve data from the following storage device types:
- Supported drive formats
- SATA/SAS
- SATA Gen 3
- IDE
- SAS USB 3.0/2.0/1.1
- FireWire 800/400
- PCIe SSD
- Supported multimedia card formats
- Compact Flash Card (CFC)
- Memory Stick Card (MSC)
- Smart Media Card (SMC)
- MicroDrive (MD)
- xD Card (xD)
- Memory Stick Pro (MSP)
- Memory Stick Pro Duo (MSPD)
- Secure Digital Card (SDC, SDHC, and SDXC)
- MicroSD – MultiMedia Card (MMC)
File format recommendations
Choosing a good file format for preservation is important as many file formats are not suited or were not designed for long term preservation. KAUST Archives has developed a list of recommended formats that promote the long term preservation of digital materials.
File folder organization and file naming convention recommendations
Good, consistent practices in folder organization and file naming are fundamental in maintaining and retrieving valuable digital data over the short and long term. The University Archivist and Records Manager has developed a comprehensive guide for folder and file naming conventions.
Preservation guidance and consultation
Proper long term digital preservation, though complex, can be simplified by setting up good internal practices, procedures, and workflows for the creation, description, organization, and storage of digital materials. Please contact the Library Digital Archivist to setup a digital preservation consultation.