Digital Preservation

6 steps to consider when creating your personal digital archive:

1. Identify - look for themes of broad categories of material to archive
   1. Locate all the places where your files are currently stored
   2. Create an inventory of these locations and what content is included
2. Gather - bring all of the materials together in one place if possible
3. Select - determine which files you will keep
   1. What materials have the most value to you or your project?
   2. What materials will provide evidence and context of your education, work, or experiences?
   3. It is okay to not keep everything
   4. Curate your personal digital archive by cutting out anything extra
4. Organize - create descriptive file names and clear folder structures
   1. Document this structure in your read me file
   2. Consider using embedded metadata to your most valuable content
   3. Use short, meaningful, and consistent file and folder names (e.g. 2019_graduation)
5. Copy - follow the 3-2-1 rule
   1. Make three copies
   2. Have at least two copies on two different types of storage media
   3. Keep one copy in a different physical location
6. Maintain - digital files need active management to ensure long-term access
   1. Update storage at regular intervals
   2. Check to ensure content can be read once a year
   3. Update the file formats when needed