Building preservation functionality in a digital archive: the National Library of the Netherlands

An increasing volume of information exists only in digital form. It can be scanned material; material actually created as digital publications; or material created as part of the day-to-day business of an organization. In The Netherlands, initiatives such as the 'Memory of The Netherlands' have emerged, creating a demand for good-quality digital materials to support them. Many other digitization initiatives are constantly being announced. The digital form offers many advantages but presents challenges in respect of preservation and of changes in platforms and software.