Although the term
born-digital content (referring to emails, Facebook posts, and other content that originates digitally) has been around for 25 years, only in the last eight to ten years has it come into prominence. Ryan (faculty director, special collections, archives & preservation, Univ. of Colorado Boulder Libs.) and Sampson (digital archivist, special collections & archives, Univ. of Colorado Boulder Libs.) offer an easy-to-understand yet comprehensive work. Though the topic is complex, the lucid writing will resonate with newcomers. In addition to the basics, the authors discuss the selection and acquisition of content, how to describe the material, and how to preserve, store and provide access to the collection. Appendix A lists relevant books, journals, technical registries, and websites, while Appendix B contains basic UNIX command line prompts. A glossary and a list of abbreviations are included, and chapters provide further reading.
VERDICT With little else on the subject, this superb work fills a gap. Especially helpful to new librarians and/or archivists, educators, and students interested in managing born-digital content.—Susan E. Ketcham, Long Island Univ. Post Lib., Brookville, NY
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