Preservation

Reformatting Approaches

Reformatting approaches at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) are based on the type, intent, and goals of a digitization project, as well as format and condition characteristics of the original record.

The reformatting approaches listed below each link to a web page that matches customer expectations for reformatting with appropriate products for delivery. The pages outline the products created in NARA's Moving Image and Sound Preservation Labs, including the product outcome, scope, and original characteristics of the source material that influence a digitization capture approach. Each product name also links to a specification table that describes the product in greater detail, including the use, purpose, format, and technical properties of each product.

Each web page contains three sections: the top section describes the products created for long-term preservation purposes, the middle section describes the products created to improve access and minimize risk, and the bottom section describes products created for distribution purposes in various systems and on various media.

There is a consultative process that takes place between archival staff and technical staff during which the most appropriate product(s) are chosen. Requests for products not routinely created by the labs are considered on a case-by-case basis after consultation.

Reformatting by Media Type

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