Collector
Contributor
Creator
Date
Description
Extent
Genre/Form
Language
Relation
Rights
Source of Description
Subject
Title
URL
I now plan to adopt these fields into my policy gambling database for description at the Tipp City Public Library. Since I am building from the ground up, I am able to ensure consistency across the board and document everything I do with detail in the form of policy documents.
The long term viability of web archive collections depends upon consistent stewardship, both in terms of people and policy. Archive-It’s Web Archiving Life Cycle Model suggests that policy should be the guiding arm of every web archiving program. During my time working with the University of Illinois web archives program, I learned that general library policy for collection development, staffing, etc. is not sufficient for the governance of a web archiving program. The materials and the challenges are too unique for a blanket policy to cover. My recommendations therefore included implementing three policies specific to the web archiving program:
A standardized workflow detailing the process of web crawls, troubleshooting, and description
A statement on the issues of copyright and ethics in web archiving
The care and keeping of web archive collections ensures a useful and substantive electronic historical record. As our lives are shared over a constantly evolving web, we need to preserve important information about our society and its history for the future. With clarity on our intentions, commitment to user access, and ongoing management, we can safeguard this opportunity to tell today’s history tomorrow.