The LIFE project research review: mapping the landscape, riding a life cycle

The LIFE project research review investigates both life cycle costing and digital preservation, with a view to creating a useable life cycle costing model that can be applied to digital preservation within an HE/FE environment. The general concept of life cycle costing (LCC) is explored as a cost management tool. LCC is concerned with all stages of a life cycle, from inception to retirement. “Life cycles” are used in many arenas; this broader context is also taken into account. Although not a vast amount of study has been done in this domain, specific library-based life cycle collection models are considered. These provide useful costing models, including the first application of a costing model for digital collections. Research concerning the effective management and preservation of digital materials is looked at, some of which notably endorses a life cycle approach. This line of investigation provided the most significant perspective for digital preservation life cycle costing. Records management is also discussed, insofar as records management principles have been advocated for digital information management and preservation. It thus provides further insight and has informed work in the area of life cycle management. To fully appreciate the life cycle costs associated with digital preservation it was necessary to have a reliable framework of digital preservation costs. Literature involving the precise nature of stages involved in digital preservation was examined to ensure that all the relevant cost factors were taken into account. Furthermore, it was significant to address the question of who is responsible for carrying out this work and how this should be done