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About the Conference

In 2003, the National Archives hosted a preservation conference to examine analog versus digital reformatting methods and to debate whether the latter is an acceptable preservation medium. In 2006, we find that the debate is indeed over, for national and international organizations have endorsed digital surrogates as an accepted preservation option and have begun digitizing a wide variety of historical materials. Questions however, abound.

This conference will give attendees an opportunity to hear a comprehensive discussion on the essential components of the digital preservation reformatting process. It will benefit attendees involved with any and all media types, for there are common issues that have implications on reformatting decisions and the approaches taken. This conference will also benefit institutions that are contemplating entering, or have just entered, the digital arena by providing a forum to examine reformatting in its entirety instead of focusing just on a narrow slice of the process.

The conference will be organized in a two-day format. The first day will be devoted to more formal presentations while the second will be a combination of panel discussions and venues allowing for more interaction between attendees and presenters.

Presentations

Presentations will include:

• Keynote - Goals of reformatting and exploring where digitization is an appropriate option
• The analog to digital conversion process that crosses media types
• Tools, workflows and skills which are necessary to make digitization as efficient and economical as analog
• Storage media choices, the concept of managed storage and what is required to ensure their safety
• Actions needed to facilitate retrieval of digital surrogates, especially through the use of metadata
• Ongoing infrastructure costs associated with digitization
• Implications of digitization for preservation programs and historical institutions in general

There will be a reception following the presentations on the first day in addition to an exhibit by vendors who provide products and services to the historic preservation field.

Moderated discussions will comprise the second day's program and will allow specialists within media types to exchange information more specific to their areas of expertise. The two sessions will be: Static media (still photography, textual and cartographic records, microfilm) and dynamic media (audio, video and motion pictures).

Transportation

The conference will be held at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC)
Inn & Conference Center in College Park, Maryland.

The closest Metro stops are College Park-U of MD and Prince George's Plaza on the Green line.

• For more specific information on routes, fares, and timetables for Metrobus and Metrorail, please see the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority web site or telephone Metro at 202-637-7000.
  
  
• Driving Directions to UMUC Headquarters and Parking Information
  
  
• UMUC Shuttle Bus Schedule and Map