[Genealib] Storing high resolution digital files

[Danielle Plumer]

Karen,

Right now, many folks who are maintaining these types of files are recommending keeping them on hard drives (spinning disks -- that is, powered on and connected to a computer somewhere). The CD/DVD solution isn't optimal because as you've learned there is a high failure rate, and the ease of maintenance of the files (migration to newer formats over time) is difficult.

You might look into an external hard drive as an alternative to your primary server, especially if you don't need networked access to them. There's an alternate form of drive, called NAS, for network attached storage, if you need them to be on your network. I'd recommended keeping more than one copy, so multiple drives might be necessary. Ideally, you'll keep these drives in separate locations, so that in the event of a disaster you could count on one being safe. In the future, we'll probably see more and better distributed systems for backups across libraries, but this is the most practical approach right now.

Danielle Cunniff Plumer, Coordinator
Texas Heritage Digitization Initiative
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
512.463.5852 (phone) / 512.936.2306 (fax)
dplumer at tsl.state.tx.us

-----Original Message-----
From: genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
[mailto:genealib-bounces at mailman.acomp.usf.edu]On Behalf Of Karen Miller
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 9:32 AM
To: Librarians Serving Genealogists
Subject: [Genealib] Storing high resolution digital files


Our library is a participant in a cooperative online
database called Digital Past.  The participants  scan
and catalog photographs and documents that previously
were only available onsite.  The server housing the
database can only accomodate low resolution images
suitable for viewing online.  The high resolution
archival images are the responsibility of each library
to handle on their own.  The files are taking up a lot
of space on our library's server...way too much space
I've been told.  I've tried burning CDs, then DVDs,
but the process is tedious and sometimes unreliable. 
I want to be archivally responsible and maintain the
high resolution files if I can.  What do other
institutions do with their archival digital TIFFs?

Karen Miller
Wilmette Public Library
Wilmette, IL


 
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