Web Archiving Fundamentals

To comprehensively represent records created in the 21st century, it’s imperative that select websites and other web-based resources be captured, stored, managed, described, and made accessible as appropriate. Of all born-digital materials, content available primarily or solely online is among the most at-risk of loss, such as loss due to intentional content removal or as a result of a website redesign. This course is an introduction and overview of key elements and core concepts of web archiving and will provide a firm foundation for further expansion of skill sets and prepare you to get more out of web archiving tools. It will also cover web archiving programs and how to scale these programs for any institution. Finally, the course will include tips for thinking about the future of web archiving, including discussion of emerging AI tools and their potential to support and transform archival practices.

Note: This course is not a hands-on tutorial for archiving websites, however, course activity guides give attendees directions for experimenting with free tools.