Importing

Sustainable preservation starts even before the import process, i.e. with the choice of format for the archive master. These are the files in the highest possible resolution that meemoo preserves sustainably. The choice we make here for our own digitisation projects is important for the further and safe preservation of archive content, so we prepare well in advance.

Technical demands

It’s important that files contain as much information as possible, and are as high-resolution as possible with no or only lossless compression. At the same time, we also want a format that’s properly documented with broad technological support. Meemoo therefore also provides support for selecting the right format for digital intake projects. Read more about it here in our documentation for content partners (in Dutch).

The import process

The import process works on the basis of a package of data (audio, video or photo files) and metadata, which must be supplied to the archive system in a predefined structure. In OAIS terms, we call this a Submission Information Package (SIP).

Importing files requires a series of actions, which each ultimately lead to the correct storage of content in the archive infrastructure. The result of each action is always saved together with the file as preservation metadata, and so is also preserved sustainably. This means we can report on these processes, and all the actions performed on the archive content are documented.

We use the PREMIS standard for this, whereby we save which user or application has carried out which action on which file. And because we also record all steps during digitisation, we can check what actions have been performed for each file, so we can guarantee the authenticity and origin of all our digital files.

Screenshot of a series of PREMIS events, which are later saved as metadata

File readability

It’s important that files remain readable after being imported. That’s why we perform a number of checks:

  • For each file transfer, we check that each file is identical – bit for bit – to the file supplied. We work with a checksum or check digit for this, which is delivered as metadata together with the audio, video or photo file.

  • To know which types of formats are found in the archive, and check if these formats are still adequately supported, each format is identified using a file identification tool. We use the Pronom ID to save the result as metadata.

  • Archive masters are typically very large files: a newspaper page can easily be 100MB, and a sports broadcast from the VRT can be as much as 500GB. In order to access the images easily via the internet, we first convert them into low-resolution files. It must be possible to read and interpret the archive master for this. A successful conversion is therefore also an additional guarantee of file readability. If the conversion fails, it is followed up by one of our employees and/or the content partner themselves.