Strategies for managing digital content formats

Purpose - With heavy ongoing investment in the creation, storage and delivery of electronic content, it is important to consider the long-term preservation of the resources produced. Design/methodology/approach - A viewpoint paper based on extensive practitioner experience with the management of digitisation, digital preservation, and quality assurance procedures. Findings - The choice of file and media formats for the content can have a significant effect on long-term access to electronic content. Practical implications - Gives some useful insights on some of the issues surrounding the choice of open or proprietary formats. The paper also examines some of the pitfalls of a proprietary approach and suggests some strategies that might be employed for managing digital content formats in the long-term. Originality/value - An attempt to provide clear, experience based strategies on how best to engage in the long-term management of digital content formats.