Removable Storage Media Trail
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Removable Storage Media | Beginners Trail |
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About this trail
This trail is designed to help the beginner understand the various types
of digital storage media. Digital information requires storage on physical
media of one form or another, all of which are ultimately impermanent. The
trail concentrates on optical and magnetic storage media. It features resources
that illustrate the strategies that have been developed to help slow down the
deterioration of optical and magnetic media, thus contributing to their
long-term preservation. The trail is not intended to make recommendations as to
the best types of storage media. This trail is a subset of the full PADI
database.
FAQs about Removable Storage Media
What are physical format storage
media?
Physical format media are also called offline, tangible or removable
media. It includes optical media such as CDs and DVDs and magnetic media such
as floppy disks. The following two resources will give you a good introduction
to the topic.
Digital
Recordkeeping Guidelines -Storing Digital Records
This resource from the
National Archives of Australia contains a definition of offline media and
special requirements for offline digital storage devices.
Digital
Preservation Guidance note 3 - Care, Handling and Storage of Removable
Media
Produced by the National Archives (U.K.) this is an easy to read
introduction to the types of physical format media and their handling and care.
How stable are different storage
media?
Physical format material can be affected by storage, handling and
technological obsolescence. Have a look at the
Chamber
of Horrors and see how many types of media are no longer used either
because the hardware or software is no longer compatible or available.
Environmental factors such as heat or magnetic fields can also affect this type
of media.
Chamber
of Horrors - Obsolete and Endangered Media
This is part of the Cornell
University's digital preservation tutorial. It illustrates and discusses media
including magnetic media, optical disks and solid state media.
National
Archives. Digital Preservation Guidance note 2. Selecting Storage Media For
Long Term Preservation
Produced by the National Archives (U.K.), this
Guidance Note features the main criteria for selecting appropriate storage
media.
What are optical storage media?
Optical disks, such as CD-Rs, CD-ROMs and DVDs, all store digital
information which, like other digital materials, are threatened by media
deterioration and technological obsolescence. These resources are guides to
ensuring the longevity of optical storage media.
Digital Data Preservation Program: CD and DVD Archiving: Quick Reference Guide
for Care and Handling
Brief dos and don't in care and handling.
National
Archives of Australia
Protecting and Handling Optical Discs Archives Advice
no. 6 A useful ready reference page explaining optical disk composition
and types, and covering deterioration and handling issues.
What are magnetic storage media?
Magnetic media includes magnetic tapes, such as audio cassettes and
reel-to-reel tapes, videotapes and magnetic floppy disks. Magnetic media is
prone to deterioration in several ways.
National
Archives of Australia
How do I protect and handle magnetic media?
A handy reference page detailing good practice in the handling,
care, storage and maintenance of magnetic media.
What is magneto optical (MO) storage?
Magneto-optical disks have been used for data backup for two decades.
The technology combines magnetic disk and optical technologies to record data.
Unlike regular optical disks magneto optical disks are read/write.
Magneto
Optical Technology Although somewhat technical this resource provides
some background information on this technology.
Where can I find more information?
For more information on storage media, see the PADI
storage topic page,
physical format digital material page, or,
search the PADI database using 'physical format
digital material', 'magnetic media' or 'optical disks' as search terms.
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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