Are You Practising Best Practises in Digital Curation?

How to Preserve, Organise, and Share Information in the Digital Age

In an era where digital content is growing at an unprecedented pace, managing that content effectively has never been more important. Whether you're part of a cultural institution, research organisation, or a business managing brand assets, the way you curate your digital information can make or break long-term value.

Digital curation isn't just about storing files. It's about actively managing digital assets over time—ensuring they remain accessible, usable, and relevant, no matter how technology evolves. This involves everything from selecting and preserving the right assets to making them discoverable and understandable for future users.

At Informed Byte, we believe that practising sound digital curation strategies is not optional—it's essential. Here's a closer look at 10 best practises that can help your team take control of digital content and ensure it stands the test of time.

Image credit by Nerissa J on Unsplash

1. Understand Why Digital Curation Matters

Digital curation goes beyond basic file management. It's about safeguarding high-value content—from research data to corporate records or creative assets—throughout its lifecycle. Good curation ensures digital resources don't just survive but remain usable and meaningful for years to come. It's about connecting the dots between preservation and practical use.

2. Be Strategic with What You Keep

Not all content is worth saving. One of the first steps in digital curation is being selective—identifying content with long-term value and relevance to your mission or audience. Clear criteria for selection help avoid content overload and keep your curation efforts focused and efficient.

3. Metadata: Your Asset's Best Friend

Metadata is what makes your digital assets searchable, understandable, and manageable. The more detailed and standardised your metadata, the easier it is to locate and repurpose assets down the line. Include information like origin, format, licensing, and context—and stick to recognised metadata standards to ensure compatibility across systems.

4. Preserve with the Future in Mind

Preservation isn't a one-time task. It involves ongoing strategies like using open file formats, planning for data migration, and regularly refreshing storage media. And let's not forget disaster recovery—robust backup systems are your insurance policy against technical failure or accidental loss.

5. Keep Your Data Authentic and Intact

As digital content ages, it's crucial to maintain its integrity. Techniques like checksums, digital signatures, and validation tools help confirm that nothing has changed. Establishing and documenting authenticity not only builds trust—it also ensures regulatory and legal compliance.

6. Make Access Easy and Inclusive

Curated content is only valuable if people can find and use it. Prioritise accessibility by designing user-friendly systems and interfaces. Ensure compliance with accessibility standards to support all users, including those with disabilities. In short: make your assets useful and usable.

7. Get Clear on Rights and Licensing

Managing intellectual property is a critical piece of the curation puzzle. Make it clear how your digital assets can be used, reused, or shared. Using standardised licenses—like Creative Commons—helps avoid legal headaches and makes it easier for users to understand permissions at a glance.

8. Embrace Collaboration

Digital curation is a team sport. It often involves librarians, archivists, IT professionals, subject experts, and legal advisors working together. By taking an interdisciplinary approach, you cover all angles—from technical preservation to ethical and legal considerations.

9. Stay Agile and Keep Evolving

Technology moves fast—and so should your curation practises. What works today may be outdated tomorrow. Set up regular reviews of your strategies and stay open to feedback. The ability to adapt is what will keep your curated assets relevant in a constantly shifting landscape.

10. Invest in Skills and Awareness

Curation isn't just a tool—it's a mindset. That's why training and ongoing education are essential. Equip your teams with the skills and knowledge to apply best practises, use current tools, and understand the value of what they're curating. A well-informed team is your greatest asset.

What Now?

Not sure how to apply these digital curation principles to your organisation, platform, or digital assets? We can help. Get in touch with the Informed Byte team for an obligation-free chat. Whether you're just starting your curation journey or looking to improve existing practises, we’ll help you navigate the next steps with clarity and confidence.

Schedule your consultation