Designing and implementing born-digital workflows from the ground up
Abstract
This paper presents a case study of the University of Oregon’s Special Collections and University Archives’ efforts to rebuild a sustainable born-digital archives programme following the departure of its sole digital archivist in 2023. Faced with a growing backlog of at-risk digital media and limited institutional knowledge, the Archives restructured its workflows to define and distribute digital processing responsibilities across all unit staff. The initiative emphasised collaborative workflow development, the acquisition of new professional skills and the adoption of scalable tools, including Preservica and digital forensics hardware and software. This paper outlines practical steps taken to stabilise data held on legacy media carriers, develop shared vocabulary and implement a ‘more product, less process’ approach to the arrangement and description of borndigital records. Key challenges addressed include equipment limitations, the creation of adequate metadata, transparent communication with donors and users and the ethics of born-digital collection management. Findings suggest that while commercial tools and institutional support can accelerate progress, sustainable digital preservation also depends on iterative, values-driven practices. The paper offers a replicable framework for other institutions navigating similar transitions and concludes by advocating for a ‘slow archiving’ model that balances access, risk and ethical stewardship. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at http:// hstalks/business/.
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Author's Biography
Mahala Ruddell is Lead Processing Archivist at the University of Oregon. She has a master’s degree in history from the University of New Hampshire, is certified as a Digital Archives Specialist by the Society of American Archivists and has worked in museums, state government and academia for over a decade. She is faculty mentor for the Oregon Humanities Center’s Humanities Undergraduate Archival Fellowship programme and oversees the Special Collections and University Archives processing unit.
Alexa Goff is Intake Co-ordinator and Accessioning Archivist at the University of Oregon, where she manages the technical and logistical aspects of analogue and digital archival acquisitions in the Special Collections and University Archives. She holds an MLIS degree from San Jose State University, a master’s degree in art history from University of Oregon and digital archives specialist certification from the Society of American Archivists.
Olivia DiAcetis is the former Thomas Intern for Digital Archives and Forensics at the University of Oregon, where she focused on born-digital preservation and processing hybrid collections. She holds a BS in economics from the University of Texas at Dallas and has previously interned with the Kennedy Center Archives, the Library of Congress Business Section and Rocket Companies corporate archives.
