Optical disks
Limit to:
CDs | DVDs
This page provides links to resources for those interested in preserving access to digital information which is stored on optical disks such as CD-R, CD-ROM and DVD. A similar page is provided for magnetic media. General information about preserving access to physical format digital material is also available.
Loss of access to digital information stored on optical disks will occur due to both media deterioration and technological obsolescence; of these, technological obsolescence is expected to occur in the shorter time-frame.
Storage and handling can have a significant impact on the life of digital media. Ideally this material should be stored in a dust free environment away from magnetic fields at a stable temperature and relative humidity. The worst handling stresses for optical disks are caused by severe flexing or the application of a sharp point to either surface.
The recording of metadata relating to the system and management requirements of the material will greatly facilitate preservation. Periodically copying data onto a newer carrier of the same type is a short-term preservation strategy which will address the problem of media instability. Migrating digital material from one hardware/software configuration to another or using emulation software to provide access to programs across different platforms offer longer-term solutions to preserving material in an environment of rapid technological obsolescence.
Text last updated: Dec 2001
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5th Joint Technical Symposium : Image and Sound Archiving and Access - the challenges of the 3rd Millennium: Abstracts
Joint Technical Symposium/Commission Superieure Technique de l'Image et du Son
(Date Created: Jan 2000)
(France)
- Abstracts of papers and posters presented at this meeting are available in pdf.
- http://web.archive.org/web/20041010230730/http://www.cst.fr/jts2000/en
/index.htm
- Full proceedings (book or CD-ROM) may be ordered from JTS Paris secretariat: http://www.cst.fr/jts2000/en/index.htm#actes
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Care and Handling CDs and DVDs : a Guide for Librarians and Archivists
Byers, Fred R.
(Date Created: May 2003)
(United States of America)
- This NIST special publication no. 500-252 provides care and handling guidelines for those responsible for the long-term preservation of optical discs. The guide examines issues such as cleaning, storage conditions, disc structure and other issues influencing media stability. The guide also includes a glossary.
- http://web.archive.org/web/20040402025109/www.itl.nist.gov/div895/care
fordisc/index.html
- Available online as HTML or PDF.
- CD Technology Overview
The CD-Info Company
In: CD Information Center
(Last Updated: 26 Jan 1999)
- This site has a number of links dealing with CD and CD-R development. In addition there are links to information regarding the longevity, handling, formats and standards relating to CDs and CD-Rs.
- http://www.cd-info.com/tech/index.html
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Data Storage Technology Assessment 2002 : Projections Through 2010
Sadashige, Koichi
(Date Created: Mar 2003)
- This report is a follow-up to the “Data Storage Technology Assessment” published in August 2000 and is divided into two main parts. The first part of the report explores the impact the market has on the progress of technology, and lists most important technological events between 2000-2002, such as development of the DVD, optical disc, magnetic tape, hard disc drive and Flash memory. The second part of the report provides an overview of data storage equipment, with emphasis on storage equipment in network environment. Magnetic tape and optical disc technologies are discussed in detail, including various available products. Future trends in the area are outlined for this decade.
- http://www.imation.com/government/nml/pdfs/AP_NMLdoc_DSTAssessment.pdf
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Digital Audio at the National Library of Canada
St-Laurent, Gilles
(Last Updated: 12 Aug 1997)
- This site explains the National Library of Canada's work practices regarding their recorded sound collection. Part of this essay describes how audio is recorded digitally (discusses sampling rates, analog-to-digital conversion, digital word length, etc.) and how the NLC assembles material for downloading onto CD-R. Also discussed are various forms of digital noise reduction (de-clicking, de-crackling and de-hissing).
- ISSN: 1201-4338
- http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/202/301/netnotes/netnotes-h/notes49.htm
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Digitizing the World's Largest Collection of Natural Sounds : Key Factors to Consider when Transferring Analog-Based Audio Materials to Digital Formats
Grotke, Robert W
In: RLG DigiNews
(Date Created: 15 Feb 2004)
(United States of America)
- This article provides an overview of the steps undertaken by the Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at Cornell University (USA) in converting its analog tape-based sound collection to digital storage. The article describes the Library's choices regarding digital media and data format selection, quality standards for data creation, monitoring of the archive and long-term storage.
- http://www.rlg.org/en/page.php?Page_ID=13201#article0
- DVD Rot, or Not?
Labriola, Don
(Date Created: 11 May 2004)
- “DVD Rot”, a term used in media to indicate that DVD technology was self-destructive and thus very unstable, has been proven wrong by the industry. However, the industry has found that human handling of the technology poses a great risk to its longevity. This article discusses the DVD technology in detail as well as its proper handling and cleaning techniques. The article also includes a short interview with Rohan Byrnes on the topic.
- http://www.keepmedia.com/pubs/PCMagazine/2004/06/22/475546/?extID=1004
7&data=dvd_rot
- in PC Magazine
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First National Consultative Meeting on the Management of Australian Physical-Format Digital Publications
National Library of Australia
(Last Updated: 16 Oct 1998)
(Australia)
- A National Consultative Meeting on the management of Australian physical-format digital publications brought together representatives from publishers, creators and the National and State Libraries. The meeting aimed to seek agreement on key principles and responsibilities related to the long-term access to digital publications in physical formats. Issues such as legal and voluntary deposit, copyright, access, licensing, collection development, cataloguing, and preservation paths were discussed and an action plan formalised to progress the development of strategies for the long-term preservation and access to significant Australian publications.
- http://www.nla.gov.au/niac/meetings/physical.html
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How Permanent is CD-R Media? Understanding CD-R's Variables
Trock, Jacob
(Date Created: Mar 2001)
- In this article, Jacob Trock discusses the permanence of CD-R media and provides a description of dyes, common test parameters, the influence of writing speed and compatibility between discs and recorders.
- http://web.archive.org/web/20050831050707/http://www.medialinenews.com
/issues/2001/news/0314/0314.1.shtml
- Long-Term Accessibility of Packaged Digital Publications (NDL Research Report No. 6)
National Diet Library
(Date Created: Mar 2006)
(Japan)
- This report details studies undertaken in 2003 and 2004 at the National Diet Library to investigate long term access and usability of CD Roms. The later study evaluated emulation and migration tests.
- http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/aboutus/preservation_02_01_2006.html
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Measures of CD-R Longevity
Hartke, Jerome L.
(Date Created: 17 Jul 2001)
- A report by Jerome Hartke of Media Sciences, Inc., of an independent study to identify end-of-life tests of importance to recordable CD-R longevity. The study does not attempt to compare longevity of dye types or specific brands.
- http://www.mscience.com/longev.html
- Myth of Doomed Data
Garfinkel, Simson
(Date Created: Dec 2003)
- This article attempts to debunk the idea that digital files and formats are in danger of becoming inaccessible. The author maintains that the digital files created today will be available in the long term because the technology already exists and as long as it distributed widely throughout society, access will be enabled. The author also argues that optical storage media has become a more stable format and that backwards media compatibility will need to be built into new generation machines for commercial viability. He also predicts that PDF and JPEG will be decipherable in the future because these formats are "well defined and widely understood", as well as noting the concept of a 'digital lock box', which would store and retrieve data in obsolete formats, as being worthy of government and industry support.
- http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/13419/?a=f
- in Technology Review, December 3, 2003 (Registration required for access)
- Predicting the Life Expectancy of Modern Tape and Optical Media
Navale, Vivek
In: RLG DigiNews
(Date Created: 15 Aug 2005)
- This article describes the results of some recent studies on the longevity of optical and magnetic media. These studies include the US National Archives Study on Higher Density Magnetic Tapes, the Library of Congress Study on CD-ROMs and the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) study on CD-Rs and DVD-Rs
- http://www.rlg.org/en/page.php?Page_ID=20744#article3
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Preservation issues for optical/electronic media
Ditzler, Carol
(Last Updated: 3 Oct 1994)
- This detailed and practical report called "The Electronic Information Initiative : Phase 1 Final Report" (our link is directly to the chapter on optical media) by the US National Agricultural Library sets forth findings and recommendations regarding the preservation of optical media and associated electronic media. The main body of this report is organised around eight topics: Preservation strategy; Processing; Storage; User access; Licensing and copyright; Cooperative agreements; Disk production; and Security.
- http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.nalusda.gov/services_and_produ
cts/other_nal_products/eii/nal-eii7.html
- Chapter in: The Electronic Information Initiative : Phase 1 Final Report ; A Key Success Factor in the NAL Strategic Plan
- Relative Stabilities of Optical Disc Formats
Iraci, Joe
(Date Created: 2005)
- This paper summarizes research that compared the stabilities of a variety of optical disc formats such as audio CDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, DVDs, DVD-Rs, and DVD-RWs. The research was done by a process of acclerated aging at a relative humidity of 80% and 85%. The results discuss how the discs aged.
- http://www.uni-muenster.de/Forum-Bestandserhaltung/downloads/iraci.pdf
- Restaurator, ISSN 0034-5806, vol. 26, no. 2 (2005) available via subscription from K.G. Saur
- Risks Associated with the Use of Recordable CDs and DVDs as Reliable Storage Media in Archival Collections : Strategies and Alternatives
Bradley, Kevin
(Date Created: Sep 2006)
- This document builds a section of the 2004 publication Guidelines on the Production and Preservation of Digital Audio Objects. The document details the measures necessary to ensure reliability when using CDs and DVDs as preservation media for data generally. It includes information on recording reliable data on optical discs, reproduction of optical disc media, optical disc standards and optical disc testers.
- http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001477/147782E.pdf
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Stability Comparison of Recordable Optical Discs : a Study of Error Rates in Harsh Conditions
Byers, Fred; Lu, Richang; Slattery, Oliver; Tang, Xiao; Zheng, Jian
(Date Created: Sep 2004)
- This NIST report documents CD and DVD recordable disc tests which were conducted in collaboration with the Library of Congress. The basis of the test was accelerated aging using humidity and temperature. Prolonged exposure to direct light was also analysed. It discusses dye types, reflective surfaces and variations in storage conditions as influences on reliability and longevity. The report concludes that archive grade parameters should be formulated and that these should be based on quality rather than brand or manufacturer.
- http://nvl.nist.gov/pub/nistpubs/jres/109/5/j95sla.pdf
- in Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Vol. 109, no. 5 September-October 2004, pp. 517-524.
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Stairways to Digital Heaven? Preserving Oral History Recordings at the National Library of Australia
National Library of Australia; Webb, Colin
(Last Updated: 13 Nov 1996)
(Australia)
- The National Library of Australia embarked on a program of digital conversion for its large Oral History collection. This paper provides some of the context for this project and the planning processes involved in the decision to digitise. The process is then described, with some discussion of advantages and disadvantages, and some issues for the future.
- http://www.nla.gov.au/nla/staffpaper/cwebb2.html
- STORAGE : Ten Year Forecast of Storage Evolution
Moreira, Fernando
(Date Created: 28 Feb 2006)
- This document presents a 10 year forecast for storage technologies, including hard disc drives, datatape and optical media. The document also discusses current limitations of these technologies, new research and developing technologies.
- http://www.prestospace.org/project/deliverables/D12-5.pdf
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Understanding CD-R and CD-RW
Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA)
(Date Created: 2001)
- This series of pages, provided by the Optical Storage Technology Association (OSTA), covers a number of topics about CD-R and CD-RW media, including some term definitions, media longevity, handling, labelling, speed and quality.
- http://www.osta.org/technology/cdqa.htm
- These pages are also available as single PDF file at: http://www.osta.org/technology/pdf/cdr_qa.pdf
- Understanding Recordable & Rewritable DVD
Bennett, Hugh
(Date Created: Apr 2004)
- This paper, in question/answer format, features information on specifications, construction, handling, care and storage, labelling and longevity of recordable and rewritable DVDs. Also featured is a bibliography of resources.
- http://www.osta.org/technology/pdf/dvdqa.pdf
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Organisations and Websites
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- CD Information Center
The CD-Info Company
(Regularly Updated)
(United States of America)
- This site has information and links provided by the CD-Info Company and includes a glossary and a "technology overview".
- http://www.cd-info.com/
- CD-Recordable FAQ
McFadden, Andy
(Regularly Updated)
- This comprehensive document attempts to answer Frequently Asked Questions about CD-Recordable technology. It is updated regularly, and covers a broad range of issues.
- http://www.cdrfaq.org/
- Data Preservation Program : Convergent Information Systems Division
NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology)
(Date Created: 08 May 2001)
(United States of America)
- The Convergent Information Systems Division (CISD), is part of NIST's (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Information Technology Laboratory. The goals of the Digital Preservation Program include working with government and industry to improve the interoperability and reliability with optical discs and library systems. This also includes research into using optical discs as a preservation medium. Focussing on CDs and DVDs, the Program is divided into several areas including optical disc reliability testbed, data preservation and life expectancy of optical discs, high density storage, and DVD compatibility testing.
- http://www.itl.nist.gov/div895/isis/datastorage.html
- DVD Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers)
Taylor, Jim
(Regularly Updated)
(United States of America)
- This extensive list, which is updated regularly, covers both general and technical topics including software and hardware, standards, compatibility issues and new developments.
- http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html
- Electronic Storage Media
In: CoOL Conservation OnLine : Resources for Conservation Professionals
(Regularly Updated)
- This is the electronic storage media page on the Conservation Online (CoOL) website and deals with videotape, optical disks (CD-ROM, etc.) and holographic media.
- http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/bytopic/electronic-records/electronic-s
torage-media/
- Services of the Preservation Research and Testing Division
Library of Congress
(Regularly Updated)
(United States of America)
- This is a brief summary of the Library of Congress' testing and monitoring projects for CDs and magnetic media, initiated in late 1995. Project objectives included developing guidelines for storage conditions that would maximize the useful life of CDs. Links included to papers describing project outcomes.
- http://www.loc.gov/preserv/rt/
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Policies, Strategies & Guidelines
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- Digital Physical Media and Device Project : CD and DVD Archiving : Quick Reference Guide for Care and Handling
NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Digital Media Group
(Date Created: 10 Feb 2004)
(United States of America)
- A brief list of recommendations made by computer scientists at NIST in order to maximize longevity for CDs and DVDs, including general recommendations for long-term storage conditions.
- http://www.itl.nist.gov/iad/894.05/docs/disccare.html
- Digital Preservation Guidance Note 2: Selecting Storage Media for Long-Term Preservation
Brown, Adrian
(Date Created: 19 Jun 2003)
(United Kingdom)
- Produced by the Digital Preservation Department of the National Archives (UK) as part of its series of guidance notes on the preservation of electronic records, this document concentrates on selecting storage media for long-term preservation. Focusing on removable storage media, the document lists various criteria that need to be considered. Also included in the document is a media selection scorecard which compares different types of media and evaluates them against the selection criteria.
- http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/selecting_storage_media.p
df
- This document is the second in a series of guidance notes developed by the Digital Preservation Department, National Archives, UK. It is also available as an RTF document.
- Digital Preservation Guidance Note 3: Care, Handling and Storage of Removable Media
Brown, Adrian
(Date Created: 27 Jun 2003)
(United Kingdom)
- Produced by the Digital Preservation Department of the National Archives (UK) as part of its series of guidance notes on the preservation of electronic records, this document concentrates on the care, handling and storage of removable media as a means of ensuring their longevity. Focusing on the knowledge of the correct handling and storage conditions for different types of media, the guide gives an overview of the main types available and provides information as to the most appropriate care, handling, storage and environmental conditions.
- http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/media_care.pdf
- This document is the third in a series of guidance notes developed by the Digital Preservation Department, National Archives, UK. It is also available as an RTF document.
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First steps in preserving digital publications
National Library of Australia
(Last Updated: 23 Mar 1999)
(Australia)
- This online version of a pamphlet produced by the National Library of Australia gives practical advice on steps that can be taken to start the process of preserving your physical format digital collection.
- http://www.nla.gov.au/pres/epupam.html
- Risks Associated with the Use of Recordable CDs and DVDs as Reliable Storage Media in Archival Collections : Strategies and Alternatives
Bradley, Kevin
(Date Created: Sep 2006)
- This document builds a section of the 2004 publication Guidelines on the Production and Preservation of Digital Audio Objects. The document details the measures necessary to ensure reliability when using CDs and DVDs as preservation media for data generally. It includes information on recording reliable data on optical discs, reproduction of optical disc media, optical disc standards and optical disc testers.
- http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001477/147782E.pdf
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Projects and Case Studies
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- Services of the Preservation Research and Testing Division
Library of Congress
(Regularly Updated)
(United States of America)
- This is a brief summary of the Library of Congress' testing and monitoring projects for CDs and magnetic media, initiated in late 1995. Project objectives included developing guidelines for storage conditions that would maximize the useful life of CDs. Links included to papers describing project outcomes.
- http://www.loc.gov/preserv/rt/
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- Audio Preservation and Restoration
Gibbs, John; Univ. of Washington Music Library
(Regularly Updated)
- A website created by the University of Washington listing many resources on audio preservation and restoration, including a link to film preservation. Although this site mainly deals with magnetic audio tape, there is a section devoted to Compact Disc longevity and care and maintenance.
- http://www.lib.washington.edu/Music/preservation.html
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- Optical Storage Glossary
CDR Info.COM
(Regularly Updated)
- This is an extensive listing of terms and acronyms concerning optical storage discs and storage devices.
- http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Glossary/Home.aspx?InitialLetter=&Cate
goryId=1
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Related Topics: Magnetic media
Broader Topic:
Physical format digital material
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA, Canberra, ACT 2600, AUSTRALIA
Telephone + 61 2 6262 1111; Facsimile +61 2 6257 1703; Telephone Typewriter
Number: 1800 026 372
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