Digital Preservation Essentials is part of the series Trends in Archives Practice. It includes two modules by Erin O'Meara and Kate Stratton: Module 12: Preserving Digital Objects Explores concepts of digital preservation in the archival context, focusing on standards and metadata required to make digital objects accessible and understandable over time. Module 13: Digital Preservation Storage Provides an introduction to digital storage best practices for long-term preservation, including terminology, hardware, and configurations. As University of Illinois Preservation Librarian Kyle R. Rimkus notes in the introduction, "The successful archivist needs a grounding in the fundamental concepts of digital preservation, a command of its key terminology and practices, and an ability to build effective programs and practices. These modules provide an excellent point of entry."

Digital records pose many challenges for archives, libraries, and museums; and behind them all lurks the shadow of trust. How can donors know that your repository will take good care of their digital files? How can people verify that the records they wish to use are authentic? How can they have confidence in being able to access obsolete file formats far into the future? These are difficult questions, but whatever the size or mission of your archives, you can move it closer to answering them and to being a trusted digital repository. Meeting the gold standard—ISO 16363 Audit and Certification of Trustworthy Digital Repositories—may seem like a far-off goal, but Module 8: Becoming a Trusted Digital Repository demystifies this complex standard. Module 8 demonstrates specific ways that your archives, library, or museum can identify gaps, improve digital operations, and plan for future enhancements so that you can indeed help it become a trusted digital repository.