Preservation and Archiving Policy

1. Objective

The goal of this policy is to guarantee the ongoing availability of all published articles, metadata, and supplementary materials through trusted digital preservation services. ABSE commits to maintaining access even in the event of technological failure, migration, or cessation of publishing operations.

2. Preservation Infrastructure

ABSE employs a multi-tier digital preservation framework, which includes:

• Primary Storage: All articles and associated files are securely hosted on redundant cloud servers with automated daily backups.
• Secondary Archiving: Full journal content is archived through Portico, ensuring long-term preservation and accessibility.
• Tertiary Redundancy: Copies of all published articles are distributed via LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) and CLOCKSS networks for decentralized archiving.

3. Collaboration with Preservation Partners

ABSE collaborates with recognized preservation networks to ensure that content remains accessible and authentic over time:

• Portico: Provides long-term archiving, secure preservation, and migration support to maintain readability of all digital formats.
• LOCKSS: Offers decentralized preservation by allowing multiple libraries to host verified copies of journal content.
• CLOCKSS: Serves as a dark archive that ensures open access to preserved content in the event of journal discontinuation.

4. Metadata and Persistent Identifiers

Each article published by ABSE is assigned a unique Digital Object Identifier (DOI) via CrossRef. Metadata is preserved in XML and JSON formats and exported via OAI-PMH to ensure interoperability and discoverability by indexing services and repositories.

5. Backup and Redundancy Measures

• Daily automated backups are maintained on multiple geographically distributed servers.
• Monthly integrity checks ensure that all content remains unaltered and accessible.
• Version control systems track all updates to published content and metadata.

6. File Formats Supported for Preservation

ABSE follows international standards for long-term digital preservation and supports multiple archival file formats, including:

• PDF/A for final published articles.
• XML (JATS format) for structured metadata.
• CSV, XLSX, and TXT for supplementary data files.
• MP4, JPEG, and PNG for multimedia and graphical content.

7. Disaster Recovery and Continuity Plan

In the event of a technical failure, ABSE’s digital preservation system includes contingency protocols for restoring full journal functionality within 24–48 hours. Recovery is supported by encrypted remote backups and periodic system testing.

8. Institutional and Repository Archiving

ABSE’s content is also archived in institutional and subject repositories through OAI-PMH export. Authors are encouraged to deposit their work in recognized archives (e.g., PubMed Central, Zenodo, institutional repositories) using ABSE’s Repository Policy.

9. Access and Retrieval

In case the journal becomes unavailable on its primary domain, preserved content will be made accessible through the Portico or CLOCKSS systems. Each archived version retains the original DOI and citation format for reference continuity.

10. Preservation of Supplementary Materials

Supplementary files such as datasets, figures, and videos are preserved alongside the article to maintain research reproducibility. Persistent identifiers and metadata are included for indexing and citation purposes.

11. Compliance and Standards

This policy complies with:

• DOAJ Preservation Requirements
• ISO 14721 (OAIS Reference Model) for digital archiving
• COPE’s Guidelines on Journal Archiving
• OASPA Best Practices for open-access publishers

12. Policy Review and Updates

ABSE’s preservation strategy is reviewed annually by the editorial and IT teams to ensure alignment with evolving best practices in digital preservation and open-access compliance.

13. Contact Information

• Email: [email protected]
• Editorial Office: Annals of Biomedical Science and Engineering (ABSE), USA