Perfect one day - digital the next: challenges in preserving digital information

Alan Howell
ahowell@slv.vic.gov.au

Preserving information is about maintaining its meaning - or essence - over time. It is achieved through maintaining information's usability, context and content. This article compares and contrasts some of the characteristics of information in paper-based format and information in digital format, particularly the characteristics that affect their preservation. The leading ideas on why digital information is inherently short-lived are discussed along with current best thinking on how digital information may be preserved and some recent initiatives in Australian libraries in this area.