Digital Preservation Across the Pacific Rim: Policy, Staffing, and Technology in PRRLA Member Libraries

This study examines digital preservation practices among Pacific Rim Research Libraries Alliance (PRRLA) members, comparing Asia and North America. A mixed-methods design, with a survey ( n = 30, 73 % response rate) and interviews, suggested a maturity gap in governance: 41.7 % of North American libraries had implemented formal policies versus 11.7 % in Asia. Staffing models diverged significantly, with Asian libraries more likely to report larger teams or project-based teams, while North American libraries relied on smaller, dedicated teams. Funding constraints were universal. Asian respondents expressed stronger interest in adopting artificial intelligence (AI) to automate text recognition, metadata generation and data cleaning. These findings highlight both shared challenges and trajectories, underscoring the need for collaborative frameworks that integrate governance, workforce development, and emerging technologies. By viewing PRRLA as a microcosm of global diversity, this study contributes comparative evidence to the digital preservation literature and proposes pathways for sustainable, cross-continental capacity building.