What core subject does digital preservation training cover for archivists?

Digital preservation training for archivists focuses primarily on best practices and tools for managing digital collections. This subject is crucial because the nature of digital materials poses unique challenges in terms of longevity, integrity, and accessibility. Unlike traditional physical archives, digital items require ongoing maintenance, specific software tools for preservation, and adherence to standards to ensure they remain usable over time.

Understanding the best practices involves knowledge of metadata standards, digital file formats, storage solutions, and preservation strategies such as migration and emulation. By emphasizing these areas, digital preservation training ensures that archivists can effectively safeguard digital assets, providing continued access and usability for future generations.

In contrast, methods of traditional archives management and financial management in archival institutions, while important, do not address the specific needs and challenges associated with digital materials. Similarly, legal issues related to paper archives do not directly pertain to the distinct practices necessary for preserving digital information, which often involves different legal considerations, particularly regarding copyright and data privacy in digital contexts.