Archivists at the UT Libraries recently received training in the same digital forensics used to investigate cybercrimes. They are using forensic techniques and the Libraries’ new Forensic Recovery of Evidence Device (better known as FRED) to recover and preserve digital content that is stored on outmoded hardware and software.
Today, the record of most work in the sciences, humanities, and government is born digital. And the hardware and software on which they are created become obsolete at an alarming rate.
It is particularly alarming to the librarians and archivists charged with preserving the scholarly and cultural record. That is why the UT Libraries purchased FRED and sent University Archives staff to a two-week workshop on using the device.
FRED can safely inventory and access files from outmoded hardware and software without damaging or altering the content. Whether migrating digital content already in the Libraries’ collections, acquiring donated materials in obsolete formats, or preserving the scholarly work of faculty, the UT Libraries is now better equipped to serve the evolving needs of its users.
For more details on the inner workings of FRED, visit our Scholarly Communication webpage.