Alabama Academic Libraries
The Network of Alabama Academic Libraries Develops an Effective Archiving Solution
by Synthia Cole
States surrounding the Gulf of Mexico are common targets for natural disasters, and Alabama is no exception. In fact, heavy rains, tornados, hurricanes and wildfires of unknown origin have caused devastation to the state’s public records and library archives seven times within the past 15 years. Damage to collections has also resulted from broken water pipes, electrical fires, human error and the ravages of time. “While academic libraries in Alabama escaped the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the destruction of so many historical collections along the Gulf Coast caused a public outcry for strategies to prevent such loss after future disasters,” said Sue Medina, Director, Network of Alabama Academic Libraries (NAAL). In an effort to preserve Alabama’s endangered cultural heritage and locally created digital collections, NAAL completed a two-year National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and successfully developed a low-cost, low-maintenance distributed digital preservation solution.
Adopting LOCKSS software, NAAL established the Alabama Digital Preservation Network (ADPNet). Funded by NAAL and its participants, this private LOCKSS network enables any Alabama repository with publicly-available digital content to preserve its archives. "Having multiple copies of our content on a geographically dispersed network gives us more confidence that it will still be around in five years, ten years, or, given weather conditions down here, next week. We’ve found that it costs a lot less to preserve digitized materials than to recreate them," commented Aaron Trehub, Assistant Dean for Library Technology, Auburn University and the Project Director for NAAL's IMLS National Leadership Grant to create ADPNet.
Participation in ADPNet is an easy four-step process:
1. Join the LOCKSS Alliance.
2. Join ADPNet.
3. Buy or re-purpose your server.
4. Start preserving your digital content in ADPNet.
ADPNet currently maintains LOCKSS servers at seven libraries including the Alabama Department of Archives and History; Auburn University; Spring Hill College; Troy University; The University of Alabama; Mervyn H. Sterne Library at University of Alabama at Birmingham; and the University of North Alabama.
A consortium in Canada and organizations in Colorado, Mississippi, Montana and Virginia have contacted NAAL to obtain information about developing a strong cooperative archiving program for academic libraries in their states. “The ADPNet model is especially attractive for statewide implementation because it uses LOCKSS, an open source, relatively inexpensive technology that is designed for ease of use, collaboratively supported and maintained, and does not require large investments of money or staff time. It has proven to be a highly effective retrieval and storage solution,” Dr. Medina added.
For more information, contact Sue O. Medina, Network of Alabama Academic Libraries, at sue.medina@ache.alabama.gov or 334.242.2211.
