Data Curation and Preservation Issues: Budgets, Costs, Staffing and Skills

 

Data curation and digital preservation have become essential activities for libraries, archives, research institutions and other organizations responsible for managing digital information. Data curation involves the active management of digital data throughout its lifecycle to ensure that it remains accessible, usable, authentic and reusable over time. Digital preservation, on the other hand, focuses on maintaining long-term access to digital resources despite technological changes and potential risks such as hardware failure, software obsolescence and data degradation (Lee and Tibbo, 2011). While these activities are critical for safeguarding valuable digital assets, their successful implementation is often hindered by challenges related to budgets, costs, staffing and skills. These issues often hinder the successful implementation and sustainability of preservation initiatives.

One of the most significant issues affecting data curation and preservation initiatives is inadequate funding. Establishing and maintaining digital preservation systems require substantial financial investment in storage infrastructure, preservation software, hardware upgrades, security measures, and ongoing maintenance. Many institutions, particularly those in developing countries, operate under limited budgets and must prioritize immediate operational needs over long-term preservation activities (Corrado & Moulaison-Sandy, 2017). As a result, digital preservation projects may be underfunded, delayed, or abandoned altogether. Conway (2010) observed that insufficient financial resources also hinder institutions from acquiring reliable digital repository systems and preservation tools necessary for managing digital collections effectively.

Closely related to funding constraints are the high costs associated with preserving digital resources. Kim et al. (2013) noted that preservation is not a one-time activity but an ongoing process that involves regular migration of data to newer formats, system upgrades, metadata creation, backup management and monitoring of digital collections. The costs of acquiring and maintaining technological infrastructure can be considerable, especially as digital collections continue to grow in size and complexity (Lavoie, 2014). Institutions must therefore allocate sustainable financial resources to ensure long-term accessibility of their digital assets.

Staffing challenges also represent a major barrier to effective data curation and preservation. Many organizations lack sufficient personnel dedicated to digital preservation activities. Existing staff often have multiple responsibilities, leaving limited time for preservation-related tasks. Furthermore, recruiting and retaining qualified professionals can be difficult due to budget limitations and competition for skilled personnel in the information technology sector (UNESCO, 2021; Harvey, 2011). Insufficient staffing can lead to delays in preservation activities, inadequate monitoring of digital collections, and increased risks of data loss.

In addition to staffing shortages, there is a growing need for specialized skills and expertise. Effective data curation requires knowledge of metadata standards, digital preservation frameworks, repository management, information technologies, and emerging preservation tools. Rapid technological advancements mean that staff must continuously update their knowledge and competencies through training and professional development. However, many institutions face difficulties in providing adequate training opportunities due to financial and organizational constraints (Yakel, 2007). The resulting skills gap can limit an institution's ability to implement and sustain effective preservation strategies.

In summary, budgets, costs, staffing and skills are interconnected factors that significantly influence the success of data curation and digital preservation efforts. Addressing these challenges requires sustained financial commitment, strategic workforce planning, continuous professional development and institutional support to ensure that valuable digital information remains accessible for future generations.

 

 

 



References

Conway, P. (2010). Preservation in the age of Google: Digitization, digital preservation, and dilemmas. The Library Quarterly, 80(1), 61–79.

Corrado, E. M., & Moulaison-Sandy, H. (2017). Digital Preservation for Libraries, Archives, and Museums (2nd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield.

Harvey, R. (2011). Digital Curation: A How-To-Do-It Manual. Neal-Schuman Publishers.

Kim, J., Warga, E., & Moen, W. E. (2013). Competencies required for digital curation: An analysis of job advertisements. International Journal of Digital Curation, 8(1), 66–83.

Lavoie, B. F. (2014). The Open Archival Information System (OAIS) Reference Model: Introductory Guide (2nd ed.). Digital Preservation Coalition.

Lee, C. A., & Tibbo, H. R. (2011). Where's the archivist in digital curation? Exploring the possibilities through a matrix of knowledge and skills. Archivaria, 72, 123–168.

UNESCO. (2021). Recommendation on Open Science. UNESCO Publishing.

Yakel, E. (2007). Digital curation. OCLC Systems & Services: International Digital Library Perspectives, 23(4), 335–340. https://doi.org/10.1108/10650750710831466

 

 


Comments

  1. Naomi MunthaliJune 17, 2026 at 5:54 AM

    Great insights on budget, cost and staffing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ashberry Mariagorette NyirendaJune 17, 2026 at 6:12 AM

    Good one

    ReplyDelete
  3. Chifundo MachesoJune 17, 2026 at 6:12 AM

    Wonderful

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gift Alimusiva KanduloJune 17, 2026 at 6:51 AM

    Nice one

    ReplyDelete
  5. Pempho AshanJune 17, 2026 at 10:29 AM

    Institutional support and continuous development are very key in digital data preservation

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anthony NyanguluJune 18, 2026 at 1:06 AM

    Indeed, institutions in developing nations are being hardly hit by poor funding leading to the growing digital gap between developed and developing nations

    ReplyDelete

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