Mapping and ranking barriers to digital preservation: Empirical evidence from a global systematic review

This paper provides an overview of the global issues hindering digital preservation in memory institutions. We used PRISMA rules to guide our work. A careful review of 1,666 records helped us find 41 studies for our final report. The results show that lack of financial resources, policies, and technology are the most common problems around the world. Next, we see a lack of skilled staff, organizational support, and legal limits as the major problems for digital preservation. These problems are not isolated; instead, they relate to each other in many ways. They form a complex system for memory institutions. The study suggests a new approach in explaining how these challenges relate to one another. The order of barriers provided in this paper is based on how often they were reported in the studies. It lacks how extensive their effect is. Still, this paper gives a strong base for taking suitable steps. The findings give useful advice for policy development, technology acquisition, and provision of training to staff. These steps will help memory institutions keep the digital resources accessible in the long run for future generations.