How do you keep up with the latest trends and innovations in DAM preservation and archiving?

1 Follow industry standards

Staying abreast of the latest trends and innovations in DAM preservation and archiving is essential, which is why following industry standards and guidelines is paramount. These standards provide the basis for developing and implementing effective, consistent policies and procedures, as well as ensuring interoperability and compatibility between systems. Examples of influential standards and guidelines include OAIS (Open Archival Information System), PREMIS (Preservation Metadata Implementation Strategies), DCC (Digital Curation Centre), and NDSA (National Digital Stewardship Alliance). By following these and other industry standards, you can make sure your DAM preservation and archiving practices are in line with current and upcoming needs of the DAM community.

2 Monitor relevant publications and events

Keeping up with the latest trends and innovations in DAM preservation and archiving requires monitoring relevant publications and events that showcase the latest research, case studies, and best practices in the field. These can provide valuable insights, inspiration, and networking opportunities to enhance your skills and knowledge. Journals such as the International Journal of Digital Curation and the Journal of Digital Media Management are great sources of peer-reviewed articles on various aspects of DAM preservation and archiving. Blogs like the Digital Preservation Coalition blog, Digital Preservation Matters blog, and Digital Asset Management News blog offer timely updates on news, trends, and innovations. Conferences such as iPRES (International Conference on Digital Preservation), PASIG (Preservation and Archiving Special Interest Group), and DAS (Digital Asset Symposium) bring together experts, practitioners, and enthusiasts from the DAM preservation and archiving community. By monitoring these publications and events, you can stay informed about the latest developments in DAM preservation and archiving.

3 Experiment with new tools and techniques

Exploring new tools and techniques can help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and innovations in DAM preservation and archiving. Cloud storage, artificial intelligence, and blockchain are a few of the options available to address the challenges and opportunities of DAM preservation and archiving. Cloud storage offers scalability, cost-effectiveness, redundancy, and security, but it also has risks such as vendor lock-in, data sovereignty, reliability, and compatibility. Artificial intelligence can automate, optimize, personalize, and innovate your DAM preservation and archiving processes; however, it can also be prone to accuracy issues, transparency issues, accountability issues, and bias. Blockchain provides provenance, authenticity, integrity, and trust; however, it may also present scalability issues, interoperability issues, sustainability issues, and regulation issues. By experimenting with these tools and techniques you can uncover new ways to improve your DAM preservation and archiving outcomes.

4 Join professional networks and communities

To stay up to date with the latest trends and innovations in DAM preservation and archiving, consider joining professional networks and communities that can provide support, feedback, and collaboration opportunities. Professional associations such as the Association of Moving Image Archivists (AMIA), the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T), and the Society of American Archivists (SAA) are dedicated to promoting and sharing best practices in DAM preservation and archiving. Additionally, forums like the DAM Guru Program, the Digital Preservation Network (DPN), and the Digital Preservation Stack Exchange facilitate the exchange of ideas. Social media groups like the Digital Asset Management LinkedIn group, the Digital Preservation Facebook group, and the Digital Preservation Twitter list also connect members of the DAM preservation and archiving community. By joining these networks and communities, you can benefit from their collective wisdom and experience.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?