DAS Workshop: Achieving Email Account Preservation with XML

The University of Houston will host a day-long DAS workshop April 7, 2014.

Early bird registration ends Friday, March 7!

For more information visit: http://saa.archivists.org/events/achieving-email-account-preservation-with-xml-14a7/502/

Course Description

How do you successfully manage and preserve e-mail? Your instructor will examine two XML schemas developed for e-mail account archival preservation: the E-Mail Account Preservation schema and the PeDALS schema. The EMAP schema co-authored by the Electronic Mail Collaboration Initiative and the Collaborative Electronic Records Project serves as the backbone of two open source email account preservation tools. One of the benefits of using the EMAP schema is effective, efficient preservation of e-mail accounts and their messages. The schema can be used in trustworthy repositories to validate deposited e-mail accounts, and can also be adopted as a professional standard like METS and EAD. The PeDALS schema originated in a grant project involving seven state archives. The PeDALS schema is specifically geared towards Microsoft Outlook .pst files and their content. This course discusses both of these schemas as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

Upon completion of this course you’ll be able to:

  • Explain – why use XML;
  • Identify the tools for XML and for parsing;
  • Anticipate the preparation necessary before preservation;
  • Assess e-mail account and message condition;
  • Master the breakdown of the schema and its application to e-mail accounts;
  • Recognize why the instructors take the account-level approach; and,
  • Develop ways to use the schema and related tools at your own organization.

Who should attend?Archivists, records managers, and librarians who are or will be handling e-mail and other electronic records.

What Should You Know? Some understanding of XML/HTML, such as recognizing the basic structure of an XML document, is useful!

Participants must bring a laptop (PC only, no Macs) with a CD drive or USB port for “hands-on” experience. You are strongly encouraged to download the CERP parser from the CERP website at http://www.siarchives.si.edu/cerp/parserdownload.htm and review the installation guide prior to the course.