The repository shall have a Collection Policy or other document that specifies the type of information it will preserve, retain, manage, and provide access to.

This is necessary in order that the repository has guidance on acquisition of digital content it will preserve, retain, manage and provide access to.

Collection policy and supporting documents; Preservation Policy, mission, goals and vision of the repository.

The collection policy can be used to understand what the repository holds, what it does not hold, and why. The collection policy supports the broader mission of the repository. Without such a policy the repository is likely to collect in a haphazard manner, or store large amounts of low-value digital content. The collection policy helps the organization to identify what digital content it will and will not accept for ingestion. In an organization with a broader mission than preservation of digital content the collection policy helps to define the role of the repository within the larger organizational context.

The Collection Strategy Policy establishes guidelines about the nature of digital content that may be placed in the APTrust repository and states that: “Content deposited in APTrust MAY be in any digital file format, including image files, motion media, web archives, disk images, etc. There are no restrictions to the content types at this time. […] Deposited content MUST NOT contain sensitive or personally identifying information unless encrypted.”  

The Mission, Vision, and Shared Values establish the repository’s direction and aims, including the overarching commitment to creating and managing a sustainable environment for digital stewardship.

The Preservation Policy outlines the preservation activities depositors can expect to receive from APTrust and details the parameters of responsibility for what is deposited in the repository. It states, “Content is deposited at the member’s own risk.”