Library of Congress – Preserving Your Digital Memories

The following recommendations are included in Preserving Your Digital Memories from the Library of Congress:

At Risk: Digital Photos

Family memories and special events that future generations would value are increasingly documented as digital photographs. But 10 years from now current memory sticks and cameras will most likely be obsolete, trapping the images in unusable or unsupported storage media.

Tip: Digital Photos

Because digital photographs require specific hardware and software to view, it is important to migrate files to the latest storage media using freely available formats. Make several copies of digital photographs and keep them in different places. To help manage your photos, it helps to label the photos with easily recognizable names and to embed tags and other information in the photo files. Saving copies of your photos on Web sites and printing copies with archive-quality ink and high-quality paper are also options for preservation.

About Mark Mizen

I have over twenty years professional experience in all aspects of photography and digital imaging. I am Chair of the ISO WG5 TG2 committee responsible for physical properties and durability of imaging material and am currently with HID Global working on systems for security printing for IDs, licenses, and credit cards. Previously, I was Director of Digital Development at Creative Memories from 2009 to 2012 and was responsible for the Creative Memories digital products and services. I also established and directed the Creative Memories Technology Center, which evaluated new products prior to product introduction, assisted with production difficulties, and provided technical information to support product sales.

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