Another definition for digital preservation I'm considering using right now (not aiming at comprehensiveness, just another concise way of putting it to encourage discussion):
"Computer science applied to historical records"
@BertrandCaron Couldn't this also stand for research in history as part of digital humanities? Better would be "Computer science applied to preserve historical records", but that would include "preserve" in the definition.
@gewappnet right, but "preserve" has this passive and ambiguous connotation... Either we need to add other verbs 'collect, give access, etc." or we use a more generic term ("maintain continued access to").
@BertrandCaron @gewappnet it depends on if we want to hold onto our jobs in preservation, or we want to inspire the future of record keeping to ensure preservation...
Another rendition of "digital preservation" has been ambulance at the bottom of the cliff by @euanc IIRC
Personally I don't think we will ever have capacity to continue to look backwards and not influence the future, hence using this image https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelus_Novus in the Myths talk (see Benjamin's description)
@BertrandCaron @gewappnet @euanc
Digital continuity has been a helpful descriptor in my writing.
But I think the flaw might be trying to rationalize our existence as a discipline... it has been asked before "are we a discipline?" ("is digital preservation a discipline?") as in a holistic field of study that exists independently, like sociology? history? psychology?
@BertrandCaron @gewappnet @euanc
Hand on heart, I don't think so. At least not forever. I think it (digital preservation) is a skill (or set of skills). A skill that enables better record keeping. that enables other disciplines. In your rendition, perhaps, enables history to become stable.
@beet_keeper @gewappnet @euanc
Absolutely - I think that's more or less what I tried to capture here: https://digipres.fr/archives/353
@BertrandCaron @gewappnet @euanc
yeah, I think that's probably where we are now.
i also recognize part of it is about an identity.
maybe it's unrealistic on my part (although I do think I see it some places) is when the 'we' that we are calling digital preservation becomes invisible once more - the temporal/temporary acknowledgement that our work today simply becomes norms.
Folks no longer have the psychic break between creation and ...then... digital preservation ...then... future access.
@BertrandCaron that reminds me of a description we used to use for roller derby "rugby on roller skates, without a ball". Doesn't 100% describe it, but gets the gist across...
@sharonmcmeekin yeah! I think we should have multiple definitions, acknowledge that, and pick the one that corresponds to our current objective.
@BertrandCaron @sharonmcmeekin
if you get bored, this site is backed by a CSV that can easily accommodate such a list of definitions ;)