Digital Curation Fundamentals

Digital information can disappear, become unreadable, or lose the context that makes it useful. In Digital Curation Fundamentals, Jody L. DeRidder lays out the practical choices librarians, archivists, and administrators face when they want today’s digital content to remain accessible in the future. The emphasis is on clear foundations and workable decisions, including for teams with limited technical expertise or resources.

Make preservation decisions with the bigger picture in view

Digital curation involves more than keeping files somewhere safe. The book introduces established curation models and helps readers consider how different approaches relate to the work of selecting, preparing, protecting, and providing access to digital content.

Compare approaches to keeping content usable

DeRidder examines emulation, migration, and encapsulation—different strategies for addressing the risks of technological change. The discussion gives readers a framework for thinking about the trade-offs involved rather than treating long-term preservation as a single technical fix.

Follow the work from selection to access

The chapters move through identifying and choosing content, foundational preparation for preservation and access, and the ongoing responsibilities of storage, protection, and monitoring. The book also considers how access can be maintained over time and how community involvement can strengthen curation efforts.

A grounded introduction for library and archive work

Written for readers who may be new to digital curation, this book is relevant to librarians, archivists, administrators, and others who need to understand how their responsibilities connect to a broader preservation effort. Its straightforward scope makes it useful as an introduction as well as a reference for placing practical tasks in context.

Explore digital curation fundamentals

For anyone responsible for digital collections or planning how information will remain usable, DeRidder’s book offers a structured starting point for understanding the choices, models, and ongoing work involved.