Information Literacy Skills

DATA CURATION PRESERVATION ISSUES

 The Silent Decay: Confronting Preservation Threats in Digital Materials

 

The idea that digital materials last forever persist, even though some evidence suggest otherwise. Digital files cannot simply be stored untouched and survive like some old paper documents (Vandecreek, 2012). This post examines the major threats to digital preservation and argues why solid curation plans based on tested methods are urgently needed.

The Physical Vulnerability of Digital Media

First, digital storage media are physically fragile. Although many assume digital information is safer than paper, it is actually remarkably vulnerable. Digital objects deteriorate over time, just like any physical artifact (Vandecreek, 2012, para. 4). This slow breakdown, often called bit rot, affects disks, servers, and hard drives alike. A case from Harvard illustrates the severity of this problem. Archivists discovered floppy disks stored in warmer climates covered in mold (Barrera-Gomez, 2026). Attempting to read these disks only destroyed them further because the mold had already peeled away the magnetic binder containing the data. Without proactive intervention, a substantial portion of contemporary history could be lost forever.

Picture: Digital media storage being exposed to harsh physical environment. Most of these devices usually losses data.

Technological Obsolescence as a Curatorial Crisis

However, physical decay is only half of the problem. Technological obsolescence poses an equally formidable challenge for curators. Woods (2022) observes that the software required to access preserved data is frequently overlooked in preservation planning, yet without it, accessing that data can become entirely impossible (p. 45). This oversight represents a fundamental flaw in traditional preservation approaches. Researchers may find themselves owning original files they cannot open, simply because they lack the appropriate software. Consider the predicament of scholars struggling with obsolete WordPerfect documents or information trapped on 3.5-inch floppy disks (Woods, 2022). The situation worsens as practical knowledge of legacy technologies fades. Harvard recently employed summer interns who had never seen a floppy disk before (Barrera-Gomez, 2026, para. 12). This suggests that both our technological infrastructure and the human expertise required to navigate it are eroding simultaneously.

Picture:The 3.5-inch Floppy disks in Technological Obsolescence. Most of these devices are no longer supported by the current generation of technology.

Toward Integrated Preservation Strategies

Consequently, addressing these threats demands more than isolated fixing efforts. Scholars increasingly advocate for digital preservation by design, insisting this principle should serve as the baseline rule from the very conception of any project (Pasqui, 2024, p. 115). Three main strategies dominate current practice,namely: refreshing (periodically moving files to new storage media), migration (converting data to function across technological generations), and emulation (recreating obsolete software environments) (Note, 2018). Each approach offers distinct advantages, yet none suffices alone. In my view, a hybrid model combining regular migration with robust emulation capabilities would best serve resource-constrained institutions (Note, 2018). Ultimately, ensuring the long-term survival of our digital heritage depends as much on embedding preservation consciousness into every stage of the digital lifecycle as it does on the technologies we employ (Pasqui, 2024). Institutions in Malawi could borrow a leaf from advanced research centers in trying to implement the hybrid approach. With this mindset, the future of digital preservation is safe.

 

References

 

Barrera-Gomez, J. (2026, May 4). Digital accessioning wins, fails and dragon tales: Part 1. Harvard                 Library Preservation Services. https://preservation.library.harvard.edu/news/2026/05/digital-                     accessioning-wins-fails-and-dragon-tales-part-1

Note, M. (2018, April 30). Three fundamental digital preservation strategies.Lucidea.                                             https://lucidea.com/blog/three-fundamental-digital-preservation-strategies/

Pasqui, V. (2024). Digital curation and long-term digital preservation in libraries. JLIS.it, 15(1), 109-                125. https://doi.org/10.36253/jlis.it-567

Vandecreek, D. (2012, August 13). Long-term preservation of digital objects. Digital POWRR.                             https://digitalpowrr.niu.edu/long-term-preservation-of-digital-objects/

Woods, S. (2022). Digital preservation and curation: The danger of overlooking software. In                                 Preserving             complex digital objects*. Cambridge University Press.