James,

Definitely a simple and elegant solution, but that is not a viable long-term option for us. We currently have tons of old CDs and DVDs full of data, and one of our goals is to wean off those media completely.  Most consumer-grade CDs and DVDs are very poor in terms of long-term data integrity. Those discs have a shelf life of probably a decade or two tops. Plus we are wanting more redundancy than what is offered by having the backups as a collection of discs in a single physical location. But if that works for you guys, power to you. Cheap is good.

Josh Welker


-----Original Message-----
From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of James Gilbert
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2013 9:34 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Digital collection backups

Hi Josh,

I lurked on this thread, as I did not know the size of your institution.

Being a public library serving about 24,000 residents - we have the small-institution issues as well for this type of project. We recently tackled a similar situation and the solution:

1) Purchase a 3TB SeaGate external network storage device (residential drive from Best Buy)
2) Burn archived materials to DVD
3) Copy files to external storage (on site in my server room)
4) DVDs reside off-site (we are still determining where this would be, as the library does not have a Safe Deposit Box)

This removes external companies, and the data is quick trip home and back.

I know it is not elaborate and fancy, very little code... but it was $150 for the drive; and cost of DVDs. 

James Gilbert, BS, MLIS
Systems Librarian
Whitehall Township Public Library
3700 Mechanicsville Road
Whitehall, PA 18052
 
610-432-4330 ext: 203


-----Original Message-----
From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Joshua Welker
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2013 10:09 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Digital collection backups

Matt,

I appreciate the information. At that price, it looks like MetaArchive would be a better option than most of the other services mentioned in this thread.
At this point, I think it is going to come down to a LOCKSS solution such as what MetaArchive provides or Amazon Glacier. We anticipate our digital collection growing to about 3TB in the first two years. With Glacier, that would be $368 per year vs $3,072 per year for MetaArchive and LOCKSS. As much as I would like to support library initiatives like LOCKSS, we are a small institution with a very small budget, and the pricing of Glacier is starting to look too good to pass up.

Josh Welker


-----Original Message-----
From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Matt Schultz
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2013 8:49 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] Digital collection backups

Hi Josh,

Glad you are looking into LOCKSS as a potential solution for your needs and that you are thinking beyond simple backup solutions for more long-term preservation. Here at MetaArchive Cooperative we make use of LOCKSS to preserve a range of content/collections from our member institutions.

The nice thing (I think) about our approach and our use of LOCKSS as an embedded technology is that you as an institution retain full control over your collections in the preservation network and get to play an active and on-going part in their preservation treatment over time. Storage costs in MetaArchive are competitive ($1/GB/year), and with that you get up to 7 geographic replications. MetaArchive is international at this point and so your collections really do achieve some safe distance from any disasters that may hit close to home.

I'd be more than happy to talk with you further about your collection needs, why we like LOCKSS, and any interest your institution may have in being part of a collaborative approach to preserving your content above and beyond simple backup. Feel free to contact me directly.

Matt Schultz
Program Manager
Educopia Institute, MetaArchive Cooperative http://www.metaarchive.org [log in to unmask]
616-566-3204

On Thu, Jan 10, 2013 at 5:20 PM, Joshua Welker <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> We are starting a digitization project for some of our special 
> collections, and we are having a hard time setting up a backup system 
> that meets the long-term preservation needs of digital archives. The 
> backup mechanisms currently used by campus IT are short-term 
> full-server
backups.
> What we are looking for is more granular, file-level backup over the 
> very long term. Does anyone have any recommendations of software or 
> some service or technique? We are looking into LOCKSS but haven't dug 
> too
deeply yet.
> Can anyone who uses LOCKSS tell me a bit of their experiences with it?
>
> Josh Welker
> Electronic/Media Services Librarian
> College Liaison
> University Libraries
> Southwest Baptist University
> 417.328.1624
>



--
Matt Schultz
Program Manager
Educopia Institute, MetaArchive Cooperative http://www.metaarchive.org [log in to unmask]
616-566-3204