Workflow:LAC Pre-Ingest Workflow

LAC Pre-Ingest Workflow
Status:	Draft
Tools:	7-Zip DROID (Digital Record Object Identification) Md5summer Quick View Plus Safecopy TreeSize fsum
Input:	Born digital content transferred to Library and Archives Canada
Output:	Pre-ingest report, DROID report
Organisation:	Library and Archives Canada

Workflow Description

1. Ensure that content has a persistent identifier (e.g., Registration Control Number; barcode for containers where physical storage media are stored)
2. Confirm security classification of records and infrastructure that is required for processing information at this level of classification
3. Create a processing workspace on the Pre-ingest server (or classified infrastructure) that conforms to a standardized directory structure which segregates transferred digital objects from metadata created during processing.
4. Ensure that all appropriate metadata and metadata generating templates are copied to the processing workspace (MET subfolder)
5. Complete a physical carrier inventory documenting all physical storage media involved in the transfer. Media must be numbered sequentially (e.g. "01" or "001").
6. Review the Digital Processing Checklist and create a record/row for the content being processed. The Digital Proccesing Checklist serves as a master tracking sheet that documents information related to each Pre-Ingest project, indicates each step taken in the Pre-Ingest workflow, and where a project sits in the Pre-Ingest workflow.
7. Write protect physical media when possible
8. Insert into drive/attach to computer/anti-virus software (LAC network network will automatically scan for viruses; if a virus is detected, do not copy the data and document the virus in the Pre-ingest Report
9. Review file format/directory structure of physical media at a high level
10. If interactive CD/DVD content or authored AV content is detected, do not perform pre-ingest for the physical carriers containing that content. Follow workflow for authored AV content. Document this in the Physical Carrier Inventory spreadsheet
11. Create sub-folders for each physical media in the processing workspace (on the Pre-ingest server). If a physical carrier is blank or unreadable, do not create a subfolder for it
12. Copy the content to the Pre-ingest server using SafeCopy. If issues occur, troubleshoot via SafeCopy or other checksum software like Fsum or MD5summer
13. For any content that is unreadable, send to Digital Preservation for extraction. Record this in Physical Carrier Inventory
14. Use TreeSize Pro to create a digital object listing of all digital objects successfully copied to LAC infrastructure. TreeSize report should include fields for physical container number, file path, file name, file extension, file size, date of creation, and last modified date.
15. Run DROID on the entire registration and create a DROID export (*.CSV) for all content
16. Start populating the Pre-Ingest Report. Record Pre-Ingest volume, number of files, and number of folders
17. Weed transitory objects (temporary files, system files, configuration files, Thumbs.db, program files) that are not required to render the information of long-term value. Weeded files should be moved to the disposition subfolder located under the OBJ sub-directory of the processing workspace. These files should not be deleted at this stage of processing .
18. In the Pre-Ingest Report, record if viruses were detected as part of the virus scan
19. Non-authored AV material (i.e. unstructured AV material that has been copied to the Pre-Ingest server)can be processed in the same manner as other digital records.
20. Use TreeSize Pro to identify:
    • duplicated records existing within the corpus. Note existence of duplicate records to be addressed as part of archival processing
    • container files. Extract any container files identified using software like WinZip
    • email file formats. Identified email files may require a stand alone workflow for processing
    • data file formats
    • database file formats
    • website file formats. Consult with the Web-Archives and Social Media Program
    • zero bytes files. Use TreeSize Pro to move zero byte files into disposition folder
    • long file paths
    • empty folders
21. Triage the DROID report.
22. Create a DROID report.xlsx, which can be filed in the package's metadata subfolder
    • color code formats in the spreadsheet according to the following categories as needed - for example:
      • Green = Ok as-is
      • Red = format unknown or non-standard: archivist to determine how to access prior preservation
      • Grey = ineligible for selection - file format preservation issue
    • refer to the Guidelines for Transferring Information Resources of Enduring Value for information on file formats already encountered during processing
      • these guidelines document LAC's formal and information file format policy decisions based on feedback and discussion with LAC Subject Matter Experts
    • further research may be required if unrecognized or unknown file formats are encountered
23. Identify password protected and encrypted files
    • un software to identify files that are encrypted or password protection
    • create a report in CSV format that reflects the results of the analysis
24. Record Pre-Ingest metrics
    • record post pre-ingest volume, number of files and folder in the Pre-Ingest Report
25. Follow up with archival processing staff. Archival processing staff to provide selection, description and physical arrangement.
    • notify archival processing staff that pre-ingest is complete
    • provide hyperlink to Pre-Ingest and DROID reports or indicate they are in the MET subfolder of the processing workspace
    • provide hyperlink to Pre-Ingest Report or indicate it is sitting in the the metadata subfolder of the processing workspace
    • flag anything else that is noteworthy - especially file formats requiring research by archival staff
    • If feasible/required, schedule a meeting with archival processing staff to review Pre-Ingest analysis and findings

Purpose, Context and Content

Pre-ingest is the technological review of digital records transferred to LAC. It involves technical appraisal using multiple software tools to automate the process. The goal of pre-ingest is to aid in creating a SIP that conforms to LAC’s preservation policies and that which LAC has a reasonable success of preserving in its repository and making accessible for the long-term.

There are two major tasks for pre-ingest:

1. Weed any digital records that should not have transferred in the first place (i.e. computer files that are configuration, developmental, temporary, software files etc.).
2. Identify file format or other issues that need addressing prior to or during appraisal/selection/description by archival staff.