SOTERIA offers comprehensive digital preservation software and storage services for archival collections. It brings together the expertise of two established and well-regarded companies within the archives management sector: Artefactual, author of Archivematica, an open-source digital preservation system designed for standards-based, long-term access to digital material, and Max Communications, holder of the Royal Warrant for digitisation and archiving services.
To celebrate World Digital Preservation Day on 5th November, we are pleased to announce two exciting new additions to our online presence. First of all, we have been invited to contribute to a new initiative by the Digital Preservation Colaition who have been sourcing contributions to a new series of blog posts from their members on the theme "Digits: For Good". To read Max's contribution discussing our new "Query Builder" application which allows tagging and complex searches to be run on the Archivematica database and reports generated from the results, please visit the blog.
Additionally, we have created a new series of podcasts on the subject of digital preservation to run alongside our popular Max 2020 series. Our first two contributors are Abby Barletta, Assistant Archivist with the Royal Society of Arts and Rachel Howse Binnington, Deputy Archivist with Fortnum & Mason. To listen to the podcasts please visit the Digital Preservation Podcasts page on the main Max site.
Max are delighted to share details of two SOTERIA / DRYAD installations. The first, a bespoke AtoM and Archivematica installation for the Royal Society of Arts, showcases AtoM and Archivematica as a flexible, branded archive management and digital preservation system. The second, an AtoM / Wordpress hybrid site created for London South Bank University, showcases the potential of AtoM to open up designated areas of your archive to the general public and by dovetailing with other tried and tested web technologies. The end result is a multi faceted user experience, specifically tailored for a broader user cohort.
Guarantees long term accessibility and usability of content
Guarantees long term safeguarding of digital assets
Mitigates corruption, obsolescence or loss of content
Supports compliance obligations
Supports questions of provenance
Facilitates new uses for the digital content in the future as these uses emerge
Facilitates new opportunities and partnerships in the future as they emerge
Maximises the benefits of future technological, legislative or procedural changes
Protects an organisation’s investment in its digital strategy
Along with our Edinburgh studio, we operate from two large production centres located within the Royal Arsenal complex in Woolwich, London. Both facilities have a dual-com alarm system directly connected to the Police, a fully monitored fire alarm system that is connected directly to the Fire Brigade’s monitoring system, security shutters to all accessible windows, full access controls to the building and within various areas of the building, CCTV both internal and external, and 24-hour security patrols within the Royal Arsenal complex.
Our environmental conditions are controlled and systematically monitored by our Conservation Manager and her assistant. Both are fully qualified professional and experienced conservators. The storage areas and digitisation studios are environmentally controlled using fully-serviced air conditioning units and dehumidifiers. These are monitored constantly by Tinytag recording devices to ensure that they do not fluctuate and that the conditions stay within the desired range.
We have a comprehensive pest control regime, including the use of multiple blunder traps along with regular inspections and logging. Where appropriate we prefer that our Conservation Manager attends any project pre-commencement meeting to ensure all aspects of the collection’s condition and our working environment are covered. All Max staff are given training and instruction in the handling of delicate and sensitive material. This training is delivered by our in-house conservators and is based on industry standard guidelines from The National Archives, where we also have a permanent team of 13.
As a company, our guiding principle is that the preservation of the original material is paramount. To this end we have a wide range of equipment to ensure that whatever the size and condition of the original, it is handled gently and with care, and that we can obtain the best images possible without stressing the material in any way. All team members are aware of this and are instructed to stop and seek guidance from one of our conservators should they have any concerns that the material is at risk of damage. Each staff member is trained to respect and safeguard the integrity of the material at all times and to regard themselves as custodians, not just during capture but also during processing, QA and delivery of the final digitised output.
Clients who have entrusted their material to our care in the past 12 months include: AMOT, Lloyd’s Register, HSBC, Fortnum & Mason, Find My Past, Historic Environment Scotland, TNA, Imperial College, King’s College, SOAS, RUSI, Royal Society of Arts, National Trust, TfL, Royal Archives, Sir Quentin Blake, National Portrait Gallery, and many others.
As well as safeguarding our clients’ material for the duration of their digitisation projects, we also offer long-term storage services. Unlike many other storage facilities we provide flexible opening hours, a single dedicated space for the archive rather than it being dispersed across several locations, access to a conservator, and on-demand digitisation for specific items.
Visit the main Max Communications website
To celebrate World Digital Preservation Day on 5th November, we are pleased to announce two exciting new additions to our online presence. First of all, we have been invited to contribute to a new initiative by the Digital Preservation Colaition who have been sourcing contributions to a new series of blog posts from their members on the theme "Digits: For Good". To read Max's contribution discussing our new "Query Builder" application which allows tagging and complex searches to be run on the Archivematica database and reports generated from the results, please visit the blog.
Additionally, we have created a new series of podcasts on the subject of digital preservation to run alongside our popular Max 2020 series. Our first two contributors are Abby Barletta, Assistant Archivist with the Royal Society of Arts and Rachel Howse Binnington, Deputy Archivist with Fortnum & Mason. To listen to the podcasts please visit the Digital Preservation Podcasts page on the main Max site.
Max are delighted to share details of two SOTERIA / DRYAD installations. The first, a bespoke AtoM and Archivematica installation for the Royal Society of Arts, showcases AtoM and Archivematica as a flexible, branded archive management and digital preservation system. The second, an AtoM / Wordpress hybrid site created for London South Bank University, showcases the potential of AtoM to open up designated areas of your archive to the general public and by dovetailing with other tried and tested web technologies. The end result is a multi faceted user experience, specifically tailored for a broader user cohort.
Guarantees long term accessibility and usability of content
Guarantees long term safeguarding of digital assets
Mitigates corruption, obsolescence or loss of content
Supports compliance obligations
Supports questions of provenance
Facilitates new uses for the digital content in the future as these uses emerge
Facilitates new opportunities and partnerships in the future as they emerge
Maximises the benefits of future technological, legislative or procedural changes
Protects an organisation’s investment in its digital strategy
Along with our Edinburgh studio, we operate from two large production centres located within the Royal Arsenal complex in Woolwich, London. Both facilities have a dual-com alarm system directly connected to the Police, a fully monitored fire alarm system that is connected directly to the Fire Brigade’s monitoring system, security shutters to all accessible windows, full access controls to the building and within various areas of the building, CCTV both internal and external, and 24-hour security patrols within the Royal Arsenal complex.
Our environmental conditions are controlled and systematically monitored by our Conservation Manager and her assistant. Both are fully qualified professional and experienced conservators. The storage areas and digitisation studios are environmentally controlled using fully-serviced air conditioning units and dehumidifiers. These are monitored constantly by Tinytag recording devices to ensure that they do not fluctuate and that the conditions stay within the desired range.
We have a comprehensive pest control regime, including the use of multiple blunder traps along with regular inspections and logging. Where appropriate we prefer that our Conservation Manager attends any project pre-commencement meeting to ensure all aspects of the collection’s condition and our working environment are covered. All Max staff are given training and instruction in the handling of delicate and sensitive material. This training is delivered by our in-house conservators and is based on industry standard guidelines from The National Archives, where we also have a permanent team of 13.
As a company, our guiding principle is that the preservation of the original material is paramount. To this end we have a wide range of equipment to ensure that whatever the size and condition of the original, it is handled gently and with care, and that we can obtain the best images possible without stressing the material in any way. All team members are aware of this and are instructed to stop and seek guidance from one of our conservators should they have any concerns that the material is at risk of damage. Each staff member is trained to respect and safeguard the integrity of the material at all times and to regard themselves as custodians, not just during capture but also during processing, QA and delivery of the final digitised output.
Clients who have entrusted their material to our care in the past 12 months include: AMOT, Lloyd’s Register, HSBC, Fortnum & Mason, Find My Past, Historic Environment Scotland, TNA, Imperial College, King’s College, SOAS, RUSI, Royal Society of Arts, National Trust, TfL, Royal Archives, Sir Quentin Blake, National Portrait Gallery, and many others.
As well as safeguarding our clients’ material for the duration of their digitisation projects, we also offer long-term storage services. Unlike many other storage facilities we provide flexible opening hours, a single dedicated space for the archive rather than it being dispersed across several locations, access to a conservator, and on-demand digitisation for specific items.
Visit the main Max Communications website
