Disaster planning for digital repositories

Abstract

This study examines how digital repositories with a preservation mandate are engaging in disaster planning, particularly in relation to their pursuit of trusted digital repository status. For those that are engaging in disaster planning, the study examines the creation of formal disaster response and recovery plans. Findings indicate that the process of going through an audit for certification as a trusted repository provides the incentive needed for the creation of formalized disaster planning documentation, and that repositories struggle with making their documentation available. This study also finds several significant obstacles with regard to the creation of formal disaster planning documentation, including the efforts required to get buy‐in from different functional areas within the organization, difficulty collaborating with the IT department, and the amount of time required for completion of the documentation.