Digital Preservation Advisory Unit

This is a hands-on online workshop designed to introduce the core concepts, tools, and workflows needed to preserve digital content with integrity and sustainability.

Over the past few decades, the digital preservation community has devised a number of open-source tools and workflows to support the long term preservation of digital assets.  Even though digital preservation is a “solved problem,” there is a need for support in the field for professionals looking to earn proficiency in these tools and apply skills in their own institutional contexts. 

This session is ideal for archivists, digital preservation professionals, librarians, records managers, and IT staff working with long-term data stewardship. Whether you're just getting started or looking to refine your preservation strategy, this workshop offers accessible guidance on working with file formats, ensuring data integrity, and managing digital preservation workflows.  
  
Topics Covered  

• Identifying file formats using tools like DROID and Siegfried  
• Understanding the structure of file formats and signatures through hexadecimal editors and resources such as PRONOM
• Converting proprietary files to open preservation-friendly formats
• Packaging and validating files using BagIt for secure storage and transfer  
• Ensuring long-term access through file integrity checks  

  Workshop Activities  

• Tool Demo: Hands-on practice with format identification and validation tools  
• Conversion Exercise: Migrating proprietary or obsolete file formats to preservation-suitable formats
• Packaging Simulation: Using BagIt to structure and validate a digital package  
• Discussion: Access and preservation, migration and emulation, and decision-making in digital preservation 

Timing of the course: 12:00hrs - 16:30hrs

Frequently Asked Questions  

Do I need to install any software beforehand?  
All tools used will be free and open source. Participants will receive setup instructions ahead of the workshop and support will be available during the session. No prior technical experience is required, although familiarity with command line is helpful. 

Are there discounted places available?  
Yes, we are able to evaluate cases for discounted places, particularly for participants from Official Development Assistance (ODA) countries. Please email digitalpreservation@soton.ac.uk with a brief note on your situation and we will offer you a discounted ticket.  

Can I pay via invoice or purchase order? 
We ask that you please attempt to use the online store to issue payments wherever possible. If you do require an invoice, please send us an email at digitalpreservation@soton.ac.uk with plenty of advance so we can get the process started for you.

Payment using the Online Store can only be completed via Visa and Mastercard Credit/Debit Card or PayPal.  AMEX is not accepted
If you have not previously created an account for the Online Store, you will need to create an account to make a booking.

RITM0745950

This hands-on workshop guides participants through the practical steps and tools needed to preserve data from floppy disks, CDs, and hard drives.

Participants will gain an understanding of forensic imaging techniques used to capture digital content and facilitate long-term access. As the mediums in which digital media is produced and shared evolve rapidly, legacy media is becoming an increasingly pressing issue in cultural heritage institutions in terms of their long-term care. Most institutions hold large holdings of legacy media sitting in seldom-visited boxes and shelves, risking the potential loss of their contents.  

Designed for digital preservation professionals, archivists, librarians, and cultural heritage practitioners responsible for born-digital materials, this workshop introduces forensic imaging workflows. The workshop is based on live demonstrations on a professional forensic workstation (FRED) that will help participants become familiar with interfaces, workflows, and troubleshooting steps. Furthermore, the workshop will include a guide to setting up forensic software and hardware in smaller settings where professional equipment is unavailable.  

Topics Covered

• Understanding digital storage media and imaging concepts
• Safe handling and write blocking to prevent data alteration
• Imaging legacy media (e.g., CDs, floppy disks, hard drives) using FRED (Forensic Recovery of Evidence Device) workstation and software such as Tableau Imager, FTK Imager, and IsoBuster
• Creating and verifying checksums to ensure image integrity
• Troubleshooting unreadable or failing media
• Creating and verifying checksums to ensure image integrity
• Overview of alternative forensic image setups such as Bitcurator
• Mounting images and considerations around access 

Workshop Activities

• Conceptual Overview: Core principles of forensic imaging and digital preservation workflows
• Live Imaging Demonstrations: Step-by-step FRED workstation imaging sessions, showing how different tools handle floppy disks, CDs, and hard drives
• Troubleshooting: Diagnosing and addressing common issues with failing or partially readable media
• Guided Discussion: Setting up open-source forensic imaging stations in small institutional settings 

Timing of the course: 12:00hrs - 16:30hrs

Frequently Asked Questions 

Do I need to install any software before the workshop? 
No. All demonstrations will be livestreamed, and no pre-installation is required. Optional resources and software guides will be provided for participants wishing to explore on their own afterward. 

Do I need physical legacy media to participate? 
No. Sample images and logs will be shared for demonstration purposes, but participants with access to legacy disks are encouraged to practice independently following the session. 

Are there discounted places available? 
Yes, we are able to evaluate cases for discounted places, particularly for participants from Official Development Assistance (ODA) countries. Please email digitalpreservation@soton.ac.uk with a brief note on your situation and we will offer you a discounted ticket. 

Can I pay via invoice or purchase order? 
We ask that you please attempt to use the online store to issue payments wherever possible. If you do require an invoice, please send us an email at digitalpreservation@soton.ac.uk with plenty of advance so we can get the process started for you.

Payment using the Online Store can only be completed via Visa and Mastercard Credit/Debit Card or PayPal.  AMEX is not accepted
If you have not previously created an account for the Online Store, you will need to create an account to make a booking.

RITM0745978