Abstract:
Digital libraries have been built all over the world. Libraries are
engaged in creating and maintaining digital libraries. One of the main
challenges in maintaining digital libraries is the digital preservation
aspect. The aim of digital preservation is to ensure that digital records are
filed and are made available throughout time. There are different digital
preservation strategies such as migration, emulation, encapsulation etc.
One of the important aspects or key part of any digital preservation
activity is the format of the document in which the digital document is
created and added in the digital library or repository. Each digital library
consists of different documents with different file formats. Due to rapid
obsolescence in hardware and software technology it is necessary for the
libraries to look into the details of the file formats such as their
characteristics, specifications of file formats, categories of file formats,
standards used for creating file formats, usability of file formats in long
term, etc. Thus file formats play an important role in any digital
preservation. This article tries to discuss about general issues related to
file formats, what challenges are there and how format representation
information is necessary in any digital preservation aspect, which file
formats are preferred formats for long term preservation as well as it will
discuss about international initiatives dealing with file formats
management registries such as PRONOM & Global Digital Format
Registry (GDFR).
