Persistent Digital Archives and Library System (PeDALS)

South Carolina Department of Archives and History

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Background – Last Year

2007 NHPRC grant proposal not funded AZ Archives submitted multi-state grant

proposal to Library of Congress AZ proposal had same basic goals SC too late for funding Paid own expenses to join project

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Electronic Archives Funding

One-time funding from General Assembly for electronic archives initiatives

Purchased hardware and software for PeDALS

Library of Congress approved additional funds for project

SC now a fully-funded partner

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What is PeDALS?

Persistent Digital Archives and Library System Multi-state grant project funded by the Library of

Congress and the Institute for Museum and Library Services

Five state partners: Arizona, Florida, New York, Wisconsin, and South Carolina

Project will run 18-24 months At the end of the project each partner will have a

functioning digital archives system

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Why is PeDALS Needed?

A number of long-term and archival records created and maintained only in digital formats

Traditional archival practices designed for paper records won’t work in digital environment

Need ability to preserve electronic records so that we can demonstrate authenticity and protect integrity

PeDALS is both a learning opportunity and a chance to implement a functioning system

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Technical Goals

To develop a curatorial rationale that can be implemented in software to support an automated, integrated workflow to process collections of digital records

To build “digital stacks” – storage that has appropriate controls for preservation and disaster preparedness

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Additional Goals

To build a community of shared practice that meets the needs of a wide range of repositories

- For best practices

- For resource sharing To remove barriers by keeping costs as low

as possible

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PeDALS Open Archival Information System (OAIS) Network Architecture

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Records Eligible for PeDALS

Permanently valuable electronic records scheduled for transfer to the SCDAH

Pilot project agencies and records: -Judicial Department – Supreme Court Case Files -Election Commission – Voter Registration Master files -Public Service Commission - Orders -DHEC – Electronic Index to Death Certificates

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Project Status Core metadata defined and data dictionary

completed System design completed Hardware and software acquired and installed Agency partners and records identified System prototype built (AZ & SC) BizTalk® training completed

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On the Horizon

Other states purchase and configure hardware & software

First ingest of records this winter

Develop public search website

Post-grant – extend participation to additional agencies and records