Digital Preservation
Reviewed field entry.
This page explains a term used by Anatomy Steward’s digital museum and teaching resources.
Definition
Section titled “Definition”Entry context: Anatomy Steward Wiki › Preservation › Digital Preservation
Digital preservation refers to the long-term organization of digital images, models, metadata, records, and references.
Why It Matters
Section titled “Why It Matters”Digital records can extend access, support remote learning, and preserve documentation even when physical access is limited.
Museum Use
Section titled “Museum Use”Digital preservation may include image files, catalog metadata, rights information, IIIF-ready fields, and relationship links.
Teaching Use
Section titled “Teaching Use”Students can compare what a digital model reveals and what it cannot replace in a physical object.
Cautions
Section titled “Cautions”A digital image is not automatically accurate or complete. Source, rights, method, and representation status matter.
Not a Preparation Guide
Section titled “Not a Preparation Guide”This entry is for educational and museum interpretation only. It does not provide technical preparation procedures, biological material handling instructions, chemical procedures, specimen-processing guidance, or acquisition instructions.
Diagram to Add
Section titled “Diagram to Add”A future diagram for this entry should show:
- Digital preservation workflow diagram: image, metadata, rights, access level, related record.
- Keep it non-technical and museum-focused.
Diagram notes: use calm educational line art, clear labels, alt text, image credit, and rights status.
Related Terms
Section titled “Related Terms”Use with Museum Pages
Section titled “Use with Museum Pages”This wiki entry is designed to support these Anatomy Steward museum pages:
Related Museum Pages
Section titled “Related Museum Pages”Sources and Further Reading
Section titled “Sources and Further Reading”The following public sources support this entry. They are provided for definition review, teaching context, museum documentation language, or rights/digital preservation context.
- Smithsonian Open Access — Public museum source for access to millions of 2D and 3D digital collection items and data.
- Smithsonian 3D Digitization — Public digital collections platform for Smithsonian 3D content.
- IIIF — International Image Interoperability Framework — Public standard for interoperable image delivery and presentation metadata in digital collections.
Source Review Note
Section titled “Source Review Note”These sources are public references for educational and museum documentation use. They do not replace professional, legal, conservation, taxonomic, or collection-specific review.
Key Observations
Section titled “Key Observations”- Representation type
- Documentation context
- Display context
- Access and sensitivity
- Relationship between object and record
Common Misunderstandings
Section titled “Common Misunderstandings”- A preservation overview is not a preparation manual.
- Documentation is part of preservation.
- Display method does not replace rights or source review.
Field Note
Section titled “Field Note”Preservation pages in this wiki must remain museum overviews and education notes.
Mini Teaching Activity
Section titled “Mini Teaching Activity”Compare two preservation or representation methods by what they make visible, what they hide, and what documentation they require.
Contribution Ideas
Section titled “Contribution Ideas”This entry can be improved with:
- Museum references on preservation history
- Non-technical teaching notes
- Public examples of preservation interpretation
Diagram Placeholder
Section titled “Diagram Placeholder”A future diagram for this entry should include:
- Digital record workflow diagram
- Labels: object, image, metadata, rights, access level, public page
- Use: show how digital records support museum access
This placeholder is intentionally non-sensitive and does not require biological material images.
Suggested Citation
Section titled “Suggested Citation”Anatomy Steward Wiki. “Digital Preservation.” Anatomy Steward Wiki. https://wiki.anatomysteward.com/preservation/digital-preservation/
Improve This Entry
Section titled “Improve This Entry”Help improve this reviewed wiki entry.
See a clearer definition, better public source, correction, teaching use, or image lead?
📝 Suggest a Correction, Source, or Teaching Use
Suggestions may include:
- a public source
- a correction or safer wording
- a related museum page
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Reviewed Status
Section titled “Reviewed Status”Version 2 field note. This page is part of the reviewed Anatomy Steward Wiki and is not open for direct public editing. Suggestions should be submitted through the reviewed contribution process.