Digital curation : a how-to-do-it manual /

In a world where obsolescence or loss of access to digital content is an ongoing threat, a book on digital curation and data preservation, with updated solutions, should be considered crucial. Harvey (Simmons Graduate Sch. of Library & Information Science) presents a detailed and well-organized look at digital curation practices, as well as a complete description of the curating "lifecycle," outlining the process in 15 chapters that cover such issues as born-digital material as compared with digitized and unanticipated forms of digital heritage, appraisal and selection of data and digital objects, methods of format migration, and retrieval of data. He stresses the importance of descriptive metadata for assuring discoverability and access. Assuming a future "universal virtual computer," Harvey explains best practices for long- or short-term curation using existing software. VERDICT Accompanied by a website (www.neal-schuman.com/curation), this work will benefit any librarians, archivists, or other professionals whose work involves preservation of and access to digital material. A valuable update for those who have relied on Paul N. Banks and Roberta Pilette's Preservation: Issues and Planning.-Lisa Guidarini, Algonquin Area P.L., IL (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.