Hello,

 

The short answer is that the issues you are concerned about should not arise. Any digital archiving system should be based on a separation of preservation and access systems. The preservation system concerns itself with holding the original data – this will be multiple copies across multiple locations. So it may make better sense to think of it as the original version rather than a copy.

 

Access, however provided, will not be to this system but to a separate one holding dissemination versions of the data. These are usually exact copies of the preservation version. In some instances there may be cases where a further ‘access version’ is necessary. For example the access version may have content that is removed for copyright reasons or due to an embargo. Alternatively, the file size of the preservation version – such as in the case of high definition images – may mean lower resolution access versions need to be produced for ease of use. Should a full resolution version be requested a user would never be given access to the preservation system. Instead an exact copy would be created and them made available through the dissemination system. This is the model that LSE Research Online uses.

 

Researchers altering the data they have access to is a different issue and responses vary according to the type of material. Some archives impose strict guidelines on how the data may be used in an attempt to guard against this but policing it is difficult. Others may choose to produce dissemination versions which are read-only or locked down in some other way. Even so whatever they do with it you should always have the original version safely in your preservation system.

 

Regards

 

John

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

John Southall

 

Data Librarian,

Research Support | Library Services,

The London School of Economics and Political Science,

10 Portugal Street | London | WC2A 2HD

 

T: 020 7955 6755

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This may seem quite an obvious query, but I'm interested in seeing how Universities (or any other repository that has set up any form of digital archive) have approached storage and access to digital research data.  One issue that is causing us concern is ensuring that the original data that is regarded as the main copy is stored securely without risk.  Do any repositories allow direct access by researchers to the original data that is regarded as the key copy – or allow only access to a surrogate.  And if researchers are allowed to access the only copy directly, what kind of checks are put on the system to ensure that the data is not at risk of being changed.  Having looked at the OAIS Framework and other guidelines I can't see anything that specifically states that the ideal is to not allow public access to the secure server on which the digital objects are stored.  Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

Kind regards

 

Helen Taylor

Archivist
Heritage and Information Governance
Heriot-Watt University
Riccarton
Edinburgh
EH14 4AS
0131 451 3638
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