This Git repository aims to describes the E-ARK SIP package structure and minimum set of required metadata for SIP delivery to the archive. It is fully compliant with the Common Specification for Information Packages.
The target group for this document are records creators, archival institutions and software providers creating or updating their SIP format specifications.
Final versions of the specification are conveniently published at the DILCIS Board web site on PDF format.
The most up-to-date version of the SIP specification is being managed in markdown format in this GitHub repository.
This is a draft version of the specification that is being collaboratively edited by multiple experts.
An HTML version of the E-ARK Submission Information Package Specification is available on the specification folder of this repository.
See Markdown documentation for a deeper understanding on how to edit Markdown documents.
Previous versions of the specification are available on the archive folder.
In 2014, the E-ARK project conducted a survey and published a report on available best practices. The report provided, among other outcomes, an overview of SIP formats used in memory institutions and supported by tools.
The E-ARK project analysed the formats and then delivered a first version of a harmonised SIP format based on that - Deliverable 3.2 E-ARK SIP Draft Specification.
That deliverable gave an overview of the structure and main metadata elements for the SIP and provided initial input for the technical implementations of pre-ingest and ingest tools. It was followed by Deliverable 3.3 which extended the previous one by providing a revised version of the D3.2 content, adding more details relevant for tool development and implementation, and describing specific profiles for the transfer of relational databases, electronic records management systems (ERMS) and simple file system based records (SFSB).
The version 1.4 is based on the deliverable 3.3 and the feedback received from pilot projects.