Instructor 
Nicole Martin
nmartin@nyu.edu
office hours: by appointment
 

ABSTRACT
This course address the use of digital files and infrastructure as preservation media, and will investigate current theories and practices for the conservation and preservation of both digitized and born digital materials. Students will learn about digital preservation environments and repositories, and what infrastructure, policies and procedures are integrated into a repository to make it preservation compliant. Students will gain practical skills with identification, analysis, handling, and risk assessment for works as a whole, their component parts, and associated software and metadata. Initiatives and research and development efforts by the national, international, regional, and cooperative organizations will be explored. Digital literacy will be emphasized, and through a combination of lectures, discussion, demonstrations, hands-on activities and lab exercises, students will develop an increased understanding of digital technologies, ecosystems, and requirements.

OBJECTIVES
Understand and articulate the requirements, responsibilities, and functions of digital preservation environments;
Understand the computing environment in which digital objects or collections were created, and the optimal environment in which they will be preserved;
Identify and characterize digital objects and become familiar with format specifications and associated metadata;
Demonstrate an understanding of digital infrastructures, standards, protocols, and technologies including operating systems (UNIX/Linux/macOS/Windows), network sharing protocols (AFP, NFS, SMB), networks (HTTPS, SFTP) file systems (Mac OSX, FAT32, EXFAT, ext), and storage architectures (SAN, NAS, DAS);
Understand strategies for digital preservation management

EXPECTATIONS
Students are expected to do required readings each week in order to be prepared for class exercises and discussions. Readings assigned for the week should be read in advance of the class session. Additionally, tutorials or homework exercises will be assigned to help practice and develop skills.

Attendance at all classes is expected; more than one unexcused absence will affect grading. Grades will be based on a combination of class preparedness and participation (35%); and assignments (40% for the final project, and 25% for assignment 1). Class sessions will include a mix of lecture, discussion, demonstrations, and group or individual exercises. Your participation in these in class activities is a required part of your grade. Many in-class exercises and homework assignments will require a computer. Student laptops will be required most weeks for in-class exercises, so please plan on bringing your laptop to class. If you can’t bring a laptop, you can work with others, or possibly borrow one from the department. Please inform the instructor if you regularly cannot bring a laptop so that arrangements can be made.

Part of your participation grade may include volunteering to research and present briefly on specific topics addressed throughout the semester.

ASSIGNMENTS & STUDENT WORK
There will be two assignments: an interview with an archivist or practitioner who works in the field of digital preservation, and an individual final project (of your choice) to be negotiated with the professor. Students are required to submit a proposal of their final project for approval, and encouraged to submit a draft in advance of the final project deadline. Assignments will be submitted electronically in the PDF file format via email to the instructor at nmartin@nyu.edu. Feedback will be provided within three weeks after the (on-time) assignment is submitted. Student works containing sensitive or proprietary information will be archived by the Moving Image Archiving and Preservation program department, but never published. Works that do not contain sensitive information will be considered for publication on the MIAP website.

SKILLS
Introductory bash scripting
File identification (mediainfo, exiftool, DROID)
Data storage, formatting and analysis
Safe file transfer
Fixity checks for files and collections
Basic web archiving using Archive-IT and Web Recorder
Read/Write data to LTO tape using LTFS
Data packaging and disk imaging


TEXTS
There are no physical text sources for this class, and all required readings are accessible online. If you have any issues accessing readings, please contact Nicole ASAP.

 

NYU/TISH POLICIES

Tisch Policy on Academic Integrity
The core of the educational experience at the Tisch School of the Arts is the creation of original work by students for the critical review of faculty members.  Any attempt to evade that essential transaction through plagiarism or cheating is educationally self-defeating and a grave violation of Tisch’s community standards. Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s original work as if it were your own; cheating is an attempt to deceive a faculty member into believing that your mastery of a subject or discipline is greater than it really is. Penalties for violations of Tisch’s Academic Integrity Policy may range from being required to redo an assignment to dismissal from the School. For more information on the policy--including academic integrity resources, investigation procedures, and penalties--please refer to the Policies and Procedures Handbook on the website of the Tisch Office of Student Affairs.

Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy
NYU is committed to equal treatment and opportunity for its students and to maintaining an environment that is free of bias, prejudice, discrimination, and harassment. Prohibited discrimination includes adverse treatment ofany student based on race, gender and/or gender identity or expression, color, religion, age, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or citizenship status, rather than on the basis of his/her individual merit. Prohibited harassment is unwelcome verbal or physical conduct based on race, gender and/or gender identity or expression, color, religion, age, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or citizenship status. Prohibited discrimination and harassment undermine the character and purpose of NYU and may violate the law. They will not be tolerated. NYU strongly encourages members of the University Community who have been victims of prohibited discrimination or prohibited harassment to report the conduct. MIAP students may make such reports to MIAP Associate Director, Scott Statland, or directly to Marc Wais, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs.

Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and Stalking Policy
NYU seeks to maintain a safe learning, living, and working environment. To that end, sexual misconduct, including sexual or gender-based harassment, sexual assault, and sexual exploitation, are prohibited. Relationship violence, stalking, and retaliation against an individual for making a good faith report of sexual misconduct are also prohibited. These prohibited forms of conduct are emotionally and physically traumatic and a violation of one’s rights. They are unlawful, undermine the character and purpose of NYU, and will not be tolerated. A student or employee determined by NYU to have committed an act of prohibited conduct is subject to disciplinary action, up to and including separation from NYU. Students should refer to the online Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and Stalking Resource Guide for Students for detailed information about on-campus and community support services, resources, and reporting procedures.