arrow@UniSA

arrow@UniSA aims to provide long term access to all deposited content and to apply best practices for data management and digital preservation but also acknowledges the inherent challenges involved in preserving digital content.

arrow@UniSA will try to ensure continued readability and accessibility.

• Items will be migrated to new file formats where necessary.
• Where possible, software emulations will be provided to access un-migrated formats.
• It may not be possible to guarantee the readability of some unusual file formats

arrow@UniSA regularly backs up its files according to current best practice. The original bit stream is retained for all items, in addition to any upgraded formats. We wish to provide support for as many file formats as possible. Over time, items stored in arrow@UniSA will be preserved as is, using a combination of time-honoured techniques for data management and best practices for digital preservation. As for specific formats, however, the proprietary nature of many file types makes it impossible to make guarantees.

All digital objects deposited to arrow@UniSA will receive a basic level of preservation

• Everything put into arrow@UniSA will be retrievable.
• A persistent identifier is assigned to all objects
• We will recognize as many files' formats as possible.
• We will support as many known file formats as possible.

For complex items (multiple interrelated files) arrow@UniSA will need to consult with the content owner regarding long term preservation feasibility. Executables and files that rely on specific hardware/software environments will also need further consideration as both format and access environment need to be factored in.

Preservation is the joint responsibility of the content provider and arrow@UniSA.

arrow@UniSA is responsible for:

• checking submission errors
• controlling user access
• retaining deposited objects and versions in perpetuity
• secure storage and backup
• preserve the content, structure and functionality of supported formats

The content provider is responsible for:

• ensuring that the content provider has the right to authorise deposit
• deciding the level of access to their content
• [deciding about removing or replacing objects]

Items may be removed at the request of the author/copyright holder, but this is strongly discouraged. Acceptable reasons for withdrawal include: journal publishers' rules, proven copyright violation or plagiarism, legal requirements and proven violations.

April 2007