Certification information on trustworthy digital repository websites: A content analysis

Area of Science:

• Digital preservation
• Information science
• Archival studies

Background:

• The need for certified Trustworthy Digital Repositories (TDRs) was established in 1996.
• Multiple international standards for TDRs have since been developed, with third-party audits verifying compliance.
• Despite numerous certifications, the actual impact and benefits of TDR audit and certification remain largely unknown, particularly regarding enhanced digital preservation capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of TDR audit and certification by examining the information repositories disseminate on their websites.
• To determine how TDR-certified repositories communicate their status and the details of their certification process to stakeholders.

Main Methods:

• A content analysis was conducted on 91 TDR-certified repository websites.
• The analysis focused on specific elements: written TDR status statements, presence and placement of TDR seals, hyperlink functionality of seals, explanations of the certification process, and the sharing of audit reports.

Main Results:

• Nearly three-fourths of analyzed websites featured TDR status statements and displayed TDR seals.
• Approximately 60% of repositories posted audit reports and provided hyperlinks from seals to further certification details.
• Over one-third of the websites offered explanations regarding the certification process.

Conclusions:

• Repository websites are a key channel for disseminating information about TDR certification.
• While many certified repositories communicate their status and share audit findings, there is room for improvement in explaining the certification process itself.
• Further research and practical applications can leverage these findings to enhance stakeholder understanding and trust in digital repositories.