The APTrust 2024 Fall Membership Meeting brought together APTrust members from across the United States. Held at the Learning Studio in the Main Library of the University of Arizona, this hybrid event welcomed 52 attendees—26 in person and 26 online—who shared updates, discussed emerging challenges, and charted a path forward for digital preservation. Over two days, the meeting showcased APTrust’s progress while reinforcing its commitment to member-driven innovation and sustainability.
State of APTrust and Technical Update
The event began with an update on the State of APTrust, marking 10 years of service and several significant milestones. Deposits now total 577.7 TB, reflecting a 25% increase since our Spring Meeting, with over 434,000 objects and 27 million files stored without a single fixity failure. Staff updates included the addition of Jay Dungavath as Lead Developer, bringing expertise in scalable applications, and the return of Andrew Diamond in a consulting role. A new Service Manager position, set to be funded by operational reserves with recruitment started by the second quarter of 2024, aims to enhance user support, training, and documentation. Transparency and efficiency were also a focus, with the introduction of GitLab DevOps to improve software development and project management and provide a public roadmap starting in 2025.
The technical update offered a detailed look at APTrust’s enhanced infrastructure, including solutions to critical challenges like a June’s Elasticache memory issue caused by large file-count deposits. With a 100% increase in storage since late 2022 and a terabyte ingested per day in November alone, APTrust continues to scale efficiently. Members also discussed integration priorities, identifying ArchivesSpace, Archive-It, Alma Digital, Archivematica, and Omeka as the most important systems for future interoperability.
Highlights and Emerging Themes
Climate Change and Sustainability
A major theme of the meeting was the intersection of climate change and digital preservation. Sibyl Schaefer’s presentation explored the energy challenges posed by digital technologies and emphasized the need for scenario planning to address uncertainties like rising energy costs and resource scarcity. In follow-up discussions, members considered steps to mitigate risks, such as prioritizing renewable energy sources, rethinking fixity check frequencies, and promoting cold and frozen storage tiers for long-term sustainability.
Member Lightning Talks
Lightning talks highlighted a range of innovative projects across institutions, demonstrating the diversity and creativity of APTrust members. In addition to the talks described below, other presentations underscored efforts to improve workflows, expand metadata practices, and adapt to the evolving landscape of digital preservation.
- Virginia Tech introduced its PREMIS-based Fixity Service, a tool designed for advanced fixity monitoring, on-demand checks, and detailed reporting. This service offers a robust solution for administrators to track data integrity and enhance transparency.
- Johns Hopkins University shared progress on its Digitized File Preservation Project, focusing on developing workflows for both existing and new digitized files. Their commitment to standardized metadata and scalable storage strategies underscores the importance of long-term planning.
- Georgetown University discussed its migration to a Samvera Hyku repository, alongside new DOI minting services that streamline access and enhance discovery for institutional content.
Policy and Collaboration
The workshop on local digital preservation policies, led by Alex Kinnaman (Virginia Tech) and Dina Sokolova (Columbia University), provided members with actionable strategies for policy development. The session emphasized the importance of aligning policies with institutional needs while fostering collaboration across departments. Breakout discussions highlighted common challenges, including stakeholder engagement and resource constraints, as well as success stories like modular policies that align with CoreTrustSeal and NDSA Levels of Digital Preservation.
Concluding Thoughts
The meeting wrapped up with an open invitation for members to provide feedback on the format and frequency of upcoming membership meetings. Travel costs have increased, budgets have decreased, and APTrust is sensitive to the environmental impact of in-person meetings. Member insights will help shape the next in-person meeting, which will be hosted by the University of Colorado Boulder.
The 2024 Fall Membership Meeting underscored the strength of the APTrust community and its collective commitment to advancing digital preservation. As APTrust enters its second decade, the ideas and collaborations fostered during this event will drive innovation and ensure the long-term preservation of our shared cultural and scholarly records.