Digital preservation of electronic records: review of concepts, challenges and strategies

Abstract

This paper presents the tripartite (short, medium and long term) definitions of digital preservation by corporate bodies in the information profession field. The paper also clarifies the concept and discusses electronic records preservation in terms of content and context. It identifies challenging factors in preservation of digital sources and points out strategies for effective and efficient preservation of electronic information which includes steps to long term preservation project. The paper concludes that with recommendation that digital preservation of electronic records should be taken up as a project of paramount importance by librarians, archivists, and other information professionals especially in Africa so as to serve as a roadmap towards technologically based strategies to overcome the identified challenges.