Processing
This section describes pre-processing work done by Digital Preservation staff, archival processing work done by processing archivists, and post-processing work done by Digital Preservation staff.
Born-digital material is loaded in software such as Forensic Toolkit, BitCurator, and ePADD, or transferred to external hard drive by Digital Preservation staff. Born-digital material is surveyed, appraised, and arranged by processing archivists. Finding aid components are exported or transferred to storage by Digital Preservation staff. FTK cases are removed by Digital Preservation staff.
Processing Overview for Archivists
These are the basic steps for working with Electronic records that Archival Processing and Digital Archives will work on together.
- You start a collection with Electronic records.
- Survey Electronic records and include them in the project proposal.
- Confirm whether you will use FTK or your workstation to process the collection.
- Sign up to use a FRED workstation on the Digital Archives Lab Calendar if using FTK.
- Survey and appraise files.
- Arrange files.
- Arrangement review by Digital Archives staff.
- Extents report import to ArchivesSpace.
Communicating with Digital Archives staff
Send email to digitalarchives@nypl.org when
- You start a collection with Electronic records.
- Be clear about where you are in processing when you contact Digital Archives.
- You have completed your processing proposal.
- You find digital media in a collection.
- Use “digital carriers” in the title of the email when you contact Digital Archives.
- You sign up for time on the Digital Archives Lab calendar.
- At least 24 hours in advance
- You are ready to begin arrangement.
- You are done arranging.
- You have completed any revisions suggested by Digital Archives staff.
Beginning Work with Electronic records
Collection Start
- Review the collection for Electronic records.
- Send an email to digitalarchives@nypl.org and let us know the project timeframe.
Survey
- Include electronic records in your initial survey for the project proposal.
- Read media labels to get an idea of the contents, at minimum.
- View hard drive contents with a write-blocker if files aren’t transferred.
- You may have the option to conduct the initial survey in FTK if files are transferred.
- Use labels instead of bookmarks in the initial survey if you are using FTK.
- View files and folders without moving them if you are surveying at your workstation.
Preparing to Process
- Reserve your FTK session at least 24 hours in advance.
- Click the FTK icon to open FTK and begin your session.
- Select your collection from the bar on the left hand side of the screen.
- Attach the external hard drive or thumb drive to your workstation if using your workstation.
Appraisal
Spend some time evaluating the electronic records before you begin arrangement. You’ll be using the same strategies you use for paper records for the most part but FTK has appraisal tools you should use as well.