File Formats Assessments

File formats are a means of structuring information in a sensible way for storage, retrieval and use. There are a wealth of different formats supporting a range of data types, from specific instances to container formats able to store different types of data. As discussed in their iPRES paper “Sustainability Assessments at the British Library: Formats, Frameworks and Findings”, the Digital Preservation Team at the British Library has undertaken file format assessments to capture knowledge about the gaps in current best practice, understanding and capability in working with specific file formats. The focus of each assessment is on capturing evidence-based preservation risks and the implications of institutional obsolescence which lead to problems maintaining the content over time. The British Library’s assessments are being made available via this DPC wiki page in order to share their findings and facilitate engagement with the broader preservation community. Feedback is always welcome. If you have any comments or suggestions, please email: DPT at the British Library

Assessment Criteria

See the format assessment factors covered in each assessment.

Preservation Risk Assessments by Format Type

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Image Formats			Document Formats				Geospatial Formats
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Audiovisual Formats			Generic Formats