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This presentation describes Virginia Tech University Libraries’ response to and recovery from the 2021 Kaseya ransomware attack and outline methods of prevention already in place, immediate response and mitigation, and new preventative measures that have since been enacted. Accepted version Yes, abstract only (Peer reviewed?)

Documentation is a key element in the scaffolding of our digital preservation programs, and the MetaArchive—a values-driven digital preservation network hosted by and for memory organizations—is in the process of shoring up its scaffolding. Over the last fourteen years, the MetaArchive’s documentation has grown organically, resulting in information that is at times outdated and often difficult to find. In response, community members established a task force to appraise, revamp, and improve access to the documentation. This task force works in tandem with standing committees to support a broader effort to build capacity around existing tools and to foster confidence in MetaArchive infrastructure. This presentation will walk through the MetaArchive’s collaborative—albeit ongoing—process. It will facilitate discussion around supporting and improving community input on labor-intensive projects and consider how documentation activities interface with governance. This presentation will benefit audience members who are responsible for creating, managing, or migrating documentation. Accepted version Yes, abstract only (Peer reviewed?)

This paper examines existing digital library practices at Virginia Tech University Libraries, and explores changes in documentation and practice that will foster a more environmentally sustainable collections platform. Published version Yes, full paper (Peer reviewed?)

At Virginia Tech our unit, Digital Imaging and Preservation Services, is a newly formed team whose goal is to establish a fully integrated digital curation system that encompasses data creation and digitization, long-term preservation storage, and stable, robust access, to wit, the entire digital lifecycle. Our combined poster presentation addresses the challenges, pitfalls, and successes of our team's efforts to produce such a system, in terms of concrete, practical workflows. With this poster we hope to illuminate the practical tasks necessary to design and implement a comprehensive and fluid preservation system.

This presentation will outline our grant-funded research into building trust with smaller organizations in southwest Virginia by collaborating with stakeholders on curating non-custodial digital archives. Small regional institutions and organizations possess rich cultural heritage collections but lack robust digital infrastructure. This barrier inhibits broader access and use by researchers and the wider public. Larger institutions are able to digitize and provide access to such collections, though too often it occurs through physical acquisition, resulting in smaller institutions losing their unique materials. This presentation will describe our methods for building trust and infrastructure internally at Virginia Tech University Libraries and with cultural heritage institutions in southwest Virginia., This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services LG-15-19-0137-19 Award Program: National Leadership Grant Program Category: Community Catalyst - Planning Total Award: $87,151.00 The views, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. https://www.imls.gov/grants/awarded/lg-15-19-0137-19

This paper presents methodology and findings from a multi-case study exploring the use of preservation and sustainability measures to increase access to digital humanities (DH) content. Specifically, we seek to develop a workflow to both prepare DH content at Virginia Tech for preservation while enhancing the accessibility of the project. This work is based on the idea of treating DH as traditional data and applying data curation and digital preservation methods to DH content. Our outcomes are an evaluation of the process and output using qualitative methods, publicly accessible and described project components on two Virginia Tech projects, and a scalable workflow that can be applied to additional work. By breaking down individual projects into their respective components of content, code, metadata, and documentation and examining each component individually for opportunities in access and preservation, we can begin migrating our digital scholarship to a sustainable, portable, and accessible existence. Accepted version

This paper presents findings from a multi-method study in archiving, accessing, and preserving 3D data. Specifically, we seek to develop a reusable and robust model for preserving and accessing 3D data. We further seek to identify links between digital triage, preservation actions, and archiving in multiple disciplines in order to make recommendations to embed data stewardship processes in research ecosystems. This work happens through interdisciplinary collaboration to validate curation practices across fields and disciplines. Numerous disciplines and sectors are producing 3D data for research and instruction, but without the guidance of published standards or practices generalizable across fields. This paper will present our findings from identifying researcher needs, preservation and access requirements, and metadata models for our 3D models of specimens from the Virginia Tech Entomology Department. Our outcomes are an evaluation of the output using quantitative and qualitative methods, a working 3D metadata schema for access and preservation, and an access platform for our 3D models.

Lightning Talk

The Virginia Tech University Libraries (VTUL) pursued a CoreTrustSeal Certification and utilized the Requirements as a development tool for our Digital Libraries Platform. This presentation will describe the process of using the guidance in each Requirement to create a body of documentation and policies, and policy-driven service and software development. Accepted version Yes, abstract only (Peer reviewed?)

Digital preservation policy development is a collaborative challenge that affects an entire organization and its content management. Determining the best methods and content for policies and supporting documentation can be a challenge. This presentation will outline policy development needs and a brief review of Virginia Tech’s journey through preservation policy development. Unpublished (Publication status)

The MetaArchive Cooperative is the oldest continuously functioning digital preservation network and community. The Cooperative has succeeded because the network and its organizational members have continued to evolve since inception over fifteen years ago. The Cooperative has made proactive adjustments to its community model, technical interoperability, and the ways it engages with the broader distributed digital preservation field in an intentional effort to remain relevant, useful, and impactful. The Cooperative will share the impact of its Changing for Continued Impact series, which has resulted in newly established Membership Levels, allowing a broader range of organizations and individuals to participate in the Cooperative. This process also yielded new technical approaches and renewed membership engagement. This presentation will give the digital preservation community its first look at the Cooperative’s new and future directions. Accepted version Yes, abstract only (Peer reviewed?)

Digital humanities (DH) projects pose several digital preservation challenges due to their multimodal approaches and varying technology. Last year, Virginia Tech presented a potential strategy for preserving these projects through documentation and project component packaging. The proposed strategies included identifying various project components, developing preservation strategies for complex items, and consolidating or creating documentation to be packaged and submitted to the Digital Libraries Platform (DLP). In the past year, they have successfully completed a case study for one DH project, identifying the existing components and documentation and creating metadata and documentation where appropriate. They are now in the process of ingesting the project into the DLP, developing a policy surrounding preservation levels and workflows for DH projects, and beginning another case study. In this presentation, they hope to share the strategies we implemented in both of the case studies and their outcomes, as well as the policies they have since created.

World Digital Preservation Day is an annual celebration of digital preservation hosted by the Digital Preservation Coalition. This is a series of short lightning talks by Virginia Tech University Libraries personnel on various digital preservation topics and Library projects. For more info, please visit the WDPD LibGuide: https://guides.lib.vt.edu/digipres/wdpd Presenters: Shane Coleman, Data Curator: "Teaching Students the Value of Historical Maps" Kira Dietz, Assistant Director, Special Collections and University Archives: "The History of Women at Virginia Tech: A Digital Tale of Access (and Preservation!)" Corinne Guimont, Digital Scholarship Coordinator: "Redlining Virginia Preservation Project" Alex Kinnaman, Digital Preservation Coordinator: "CoreTrustSeal Repository Certification" Luke Menzies, Digital Preservation Technologist: "Digital Preservation & Social Justice" Wen Ng, Digital Collections Librarian: "Southwest Virginia Digital Archive" Todd Ogle, Executive Director, ARIES: "Immersive Archaeology" Maureen Saverot, 3D Imaging Specialist: "Photogrammetry & 3D Insects" James Tuttle, Associate Director, Digital Libraries: "Digital Libraries Platform Preservation Strategy

Virginia Tech University Libraries is developing a cloud-based, serverless, microservice application to support digital asset management, preservation, and access. This presentation will outline the balance of cost-effectiveness and creating a trustworthy platform while relying on the cloud. Accepted version Yes, abstract only (Peer reviewed?)

This poster presents the results of a multi-case study on 3D datasets at Virginia Tech University Libraries and an invitation to participate in a survey on 3D and virtual reality preservation methods. These results will culminate in a proposed 3D/VR preservation workflow employed by VTUL on a current 3D digitization project. Accepted version Yes, abstract only (Peer reviewed?)

Digital Humanities (DH) projects are complex with multiple moving components in need of preservation. Early preservation planning for each component is a strategy for long-term access. This presentation will break down various components of a DH project, preservation approaches for those components, packaging methods for future recreation/emulation. Accepted version Yes, abstract only (Peer reviewed?)

Digital Humanities (DH) projects are often complex and pose a challenge for digital preservation. Best practices and standard techniques for preserving combinations of databases, user interfaces, and documentation does not yet exist. At Virginia Tech University Libraries (VTUL), we have a group of faculty dedicated to developing and sustaining DH projects ranging from small online exhibits to large research projects. As support for these projects develops, a major component is to incorporate preservation planning early on in the process, including a preservation plan, sustainability plan, and general documentation. Another component is researching and testing technical requirements for packaging and maintaining DH project elements. The goal of this presentation is to outline our strategy of early planning and documentation to preserve DH projects effectively. We will discuss our current practices and highlight involvement with one or two projects and explore how this may be used as a model for future work. Please see the speaker notes in the PPTX file for additional context.

Join us to learn about OER affordances, tools, support and applications! This session will include brief lightning talks to provide an overview of these open education topics as well as hands-on time for attendees to ask questions about some current and recent open education projects at Virginia Tech, the pedagogical implications of open educational resources, and support that is available for instructors and learners who would like to share or create open educational resources. Topics include: open publishing, Creative Commons licensing, open source virtual reality, Omeka, the Open Textbook Library, and more.

This talk presents findings from a pilot multi-case study in archiving and preserving 3D and virtual environment data using the OAIS reference model for 3D and VR data sets. Specifically, we seek to learn new lessons from the review, evaluation and re-validation of curated 3D and VR content. We further seek to identify links between digital triage, preservation actions, and archiving in multiple disciplines in order to make recommendations to embed data stewardship processes in research ecosystems. This work happens through interdisciplinary collaboration to validate curation practices across fields to support reproducibility in research with 3D and/or VR data. Numerous disciplines and sectors are producing 3D data for research and instruction, but without the guidance of published standards or practices generalizable across fields. In this presentation we will present our findings from taking 3D and VR data sets from three separate initiatives in distinct disciplines and creating archival objects using the OAIS reference model. Our findings review the use of OAIS as applied to preserving 3D content, and expands on what steps and information on 3D workflows we need to preserve in order to ensure reuse across disciplines., Please see the notes in the slides for additional information and context.

In celebration of World Digital Preservation Day, seven Virginia Tech University Library personnel from four different Library departments will present five-minute lightning talks covering various practical and unique topics on digital preservation. Speakers and topics include: Alex Kinnaman, Digital Preservation Coordinator: Web Archiving Luke Menzies, Digital Preservation Technologist: Setting up Personal Archive Storage Jim Tuttle, Associate Director of Digital Libraries: Risk, Threats, and Mitigations Maureen Saverot, 3D Technical Artist: 3D Photogrammetry Jon Petters, Data Management Consultant and Curation Services Coordinator: Data Management Planning Philip Young, Institutional Repository Manager: Perma.cc Corinne Guimont, Digital Scholarship Coordinator: Documentation All of these digital preservation topics are activities and services provided by Virginia Tech University Libraries. World Digital Preservation Day is an international event hosted by the Digital Preservation Coalition as a means of bringing together the digital preservation community and enhancing awareness of digital preservation best practices. More information can be found here: https://www.dpconline.org/events/world-digital-preservation-day. See the Digital Preservation LibGuide page on World Digital Preservation Day (https://guides.lib.vt.edu/digipres/wdpd) to see some of the other events the University Libraries are hosting for this Day.

Creating sustainable, preservable Digital Humanities (DH) projects is a challenge that is often left until after project completion if considered at all. This presentation explores a case study that is implementing a strategy of project management, preservation planning, and documentation early in development as a framework for preserving DH projects. Please see the DLF 2019 OSF repository for additional conference information (https://osf.io/meetings/DLFForum2019/)

Preservation systems rely on the tools and technology provided by the expertise of available IT personnel. This panel includes representatives from Virginia Tech, UCLA, University of Arkansas, and the Computer History Museum to discuss collaborating with IT on preservation needs and the balance of libraries and IT in developing preservation systems.

At Virginia Tech University Libraries (VTUL), our unit, Digital Imaging and Preservation Services (DI&PS), is a newly formed team whose goal is to establish a fully integrated digital curation system that encompasses data creation and digitization, long-term preservation and storage, and stable, robust access. Any new preservation work must be built on the remnants of what has gone before, both in terms of hardware and software, and in terms of institutional structures, procedures, and people. Development of a new digital curation systems is also constricted by available funding and expertise. Our case study addresses the challenges, pitfalls, and successes of our team's efforts to produce such a system, in terms of concrete, practical workflows. In order to accomplish our goals we are working together with units from all across the library in order to enable these technologies to work together in addition to their respective library department faculty working together.

In support of the IMLS Grant "Community Development Model for Digital Community Archives" awarded to Virginia Tech in 2019, Virginia Tech university Libraries hosted four forum sessions for community organizations located in the greater Southwest Virginia to discuss a model for developing an equitable, community-developed archive. This was facilitated by the Institute for Engagement & Negotiation at the University of Virginia. The sessions were conducted remotely on Zoom and recorded. The four sessions included discussion on what the Southwest Virginia Digital Archive is and how it may serve the wider community; functional requirements community members may have in order to effectively display their content; the Memorandum of Agreement that would officially document the collaboration; and the development of a community advisory board to ensure ongoing support. This dataset includes four TXT files of transcriptions from each of the four sessions. The transcriptions have been cleaned and anonymized to protect the community participants. Participants agreed to have anonymized transcripts made public. Members of the Virginia Tech faculty and the Institute for Engagement & Negotiation staff are named to provide context. Additional grant information may be found at https://www.imls.gov/grants/awarded/lg-15-19-0137-19. Unpublished version