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SONAR|HES-SO

SONAR|HES-SO regroupe les travaux de bachelor et master diffusables de plusieurs écoles de la HES-SO. Consultez cette page pour le détails.

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FERNANDES_Catarina_TB_2025.pdf
Bachelor thesis

Long-term preservation of historical digital assets : analysing the needs, approaches and potential solutions for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

  • Genève : Haute école de gestion de Genève

140 p.

Bachelor of Science HES-SO en Information Science : Haute école de gestion de Genève, 2025

English This Bachelor thesis was carried out in collaboration with the Library & Archives Services of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and focuses on the long-term preservation of its historical digital assets. In the context of ongoing digital transformation, growing reliance on digital content, and continuous accumulation, the IFRC Archive Service seeks to define a Digital Preservation Policy to ensure the long-term accessibility, reliability, and protection of its digital heritage. This thesis supports that effort by demonstrating the relevance of digital preservation within the IFRC, identifying key challenges, and outlining realistic actions to initiate or reinforce a long-term strategy.
To this end, the thesis is structured around four main phases. First, a literature review clarifies key concepts and presents the core principles, standards, models, and best practices in digital preservation. Secondly, the study explores practices among international organisations through a survey and three case studies, identifying relevant strategies and lessons for the IFRC. Thirdly, an internal assessment analyses how digital assets are currently managed, based on business process modelling and maturity frameworks, to evaluate organizational readiness and identify risks. Finally, a comparative analysis of proprietary and open-source digital preservation solutions examines the suitability of existing tools for the IFRC's specific needs and constraints.
Regarding the findings, they reveal clear vulnerabilities in digital asset management, including a persistent gap between policy and practice, particularly with regard to born-digital content, as well as uneven practices across content types. The maturity model places the IFRC at a basic or protective stage, with limited insights into the technical characteristics and preservation risks of its collections. The survey, although limited, highlights widespread barriers such as lack of policies, resources, and institutional support. The case studies demonstrate that preservation can gain traction when embedded into workflows and supported by leadership and collaboration. The tool analysis, although with some limitations, confirms the existence of diverse, viable options, each with trade-offs to consider in future procurement.
Three recommendations are finally proposed: conducting a deeper technical analysis of digital collections to inform priorities; reinforcing internal awareness and stakeholder collaboration and participating in training opportunities and adopting a proactive monitoring role to build expertise within the organisation.
Language
  • English
Classification
Information, communication and media sciences
Notes
  • Haute école de gestion de Genève
  • Information documentaire
  • hesso:hegge
Persistent URL
https://sonar.ch/hesso/documents/333336
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