Electronic Archives Preservation

Electronic archives preservation is saving information for future generations: this requires not just the physical preservation of the data but also depends on preserving the ability to retrieve and read it. Library and Archives Canada's Preservation Branch has the tools, ability and equipment to manage and retrieve this electronic information. The Gatineau Preservation Centre is the repository for electronic archives, and will provide for preservation and access operations by the extensive use of telecommunications links.

Archiving electronic records requires a new way of thinking, thus LAC is in the process of implementing an Electronic Archives Preservation System (EAPS) that will automate the migration, surveys and retrieval functions for archival electronic records in the collections. This system will automatically capture relevant technical information as meta-data during preservation processing. A configuration of server, disk arrays and tape subsystems addresses new possibilities for optimizing and managing data access, migration and surveys.