9.1.1 Introduction

9.1.1.1  The production and long term preservation of digital audio objects incorporates a number of interrelated parts, many quite complex. These guidelines define the tasks as: Extraction of audio content to create archival digital audio objects; Ingest of the content into a digital storage system including the creation of necessary metadata: Administration and management of the data and system: Archival storage: Preservation planning: and Access.

9.1.1.2  Some institutions have the facility to undertake all the tasks, as well as a collection whose size justifies the expenditure. The alternative is to negotiate partnerships to manage some or all of the tasks on behalf of the collection owners. These partnerships may be with other, larger institutions, could include partnerships with like minded institutions, or could represent a commercial relationship with a supplier.

9.1.1.3  This section of the Guidelines examines the resources required to create and preserve digital audio objects according to technical requirements described in this document. It considers the issues related to size of collections and scale of work, recognising that the professional fulfilment of the requirements as described herein can only be met when the size of the collection held by the respective institutions reaches a critical mass that make autonomous preservation viable. Many institutions, collections or archives have particular expertise and resources in core areas which they can deploy to facilitate the necessary processes. It is recommended that they maximise the benefit from their core business area while carefully examining the areas where services may be better sought elsewhere.