Born-digital materials are now a staple of archival collections, but many institutions approach collecting digital archives in the same way as traditional records and manuscript collections. The linear records lifecycle model simply does not work for digital materials, which often face preservation risks long before they would typically enter into archival custody. Rather than waiting for digital collections to come in, archivists need to work proactively with creators to ensure that this information will last for users in both the near and far future. This presentation will discuss current efforts to work with independent game developers to collect digital games and related archival materials as a case study, demonstrating the importance and challenges of new approaches to digital archives.

Presented by Colin Post, UNC Greensboro