I'm coming at this from an IT perspective, rather than an archivist's
perspective, or that of a Collections Specialist. I would hate to think
that you're setting up a library of removable media, just because you're
running out of space on the servers. In an honest comparison, it would
be probably cheaper to install a new server with some digital repository
software (DSpace, for example, but there some others) and tons of disk
space than to set up a library of removable media and the related
systems and equipment and people the library would require.
Whenever I think about this issue, hard disks seem like the best way to
keep images, and not removing them from the server at all seems like the
absolute best. In other words, I hope we can never have to remove our
stored images from the servers. For these reasons:
* Server disk space (while more expensive than cheap removable
drives) is pretty cheap and continuing to get cheaper all the time.
* You can easily back up your image DB occasionally, and send the
tapes somewhere safe.
* It takes effort not to lose track of a DVD or other removable
media, if you're really using it, but you won't lose track of the
server.
* Distribution is simpler--people can get the images out of the db,
instead of calling the DVD librarian.
* It probably takes less space, and fewer people (you don't need a
DVD librarian).
* When you do have to migrate to new media, on-line disks are very
fast and labor-unintensive, relative to removable media.
I know this isn't the question you're asking, Marla, but when the
servers are filling up, and you have to change what you do, it's
probably a good time to look at the whole IT picture and see what your
IT department could be doing differently. Personally, given the fact
that disk space is so cheap, I feel like it's my job as IT manager to
make sure that BMA never runs out of it (while enforcing reasonable
quotas and policies to make sure it's not wasted). Managing server space
is definitely not free or simple, and removable media is a valid option
at times, but maybe there is a better way to handle your server space
than the way it's being done now.
Good luck,
Matt Morgan
Manager of Information Systems
Brooklyn Museum of Art
[email protected] wrote:
Kodak doesn't make the Ultima Gold anymore. (That should give you an idea of
the problem with digital storage media...) Mitsui is now recommended.
The suggestion that removable HD is better sounds good to me.
There's a lot about this on the ImageLib listserv right now.
Just some hurried thoughts.
-----Original Message-----
From: Misunas, Marla [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: � 17/11/2003 22:06
To: [email protected]
Cc:
Subject: Archival fixed storage media
Hi everyone,
At SFMOMA we are beginning to archive some large raw image files (our
servers are getting full) and are looking to tap into your
information/experience on the elusive question of which fixed storage media we
should use -- now. Should we use Kodak ��s Gold Ultima? Should we use DVD?
Does anyone have information on predicted longevity for DVD? Is there a
specific type of DVD we should use? Is there an archival alternative to DVD?
Which different redundant media storage formats are recommended? Does anyone
(really) migrate their fixed media every few years? Any issues about migration
we should look out for?
We ��ve tossed these questions around for quite a while and we are
familiar with many resources (such as the Colorado Digitization Program) but as
our field is always updating itself, I wanted to check in on any current
thinking/research, etc.
Thanks so much for any ideas or suggestions.
Marla Misunas
Collections Information Manager
Collections Information and Access
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
(415) 357- 4186 (voice)
(415) 947-1186 (fax)
www.sfmoma.org
___________________________________
Board Member, Museum Computer Network
Conference Co-Chair, Minneapolis 2004
www.mcn.edu
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