The format used to digitize content, publish it on the Web or view it on a consumer device can be quite different from the one most suited to preserving the material for long-term access.
The National Heritage Digitization Strategy – Digital Preservation File Format Recommendations resource proposes which file formats to use when preserving digitized text, still images, audio and video recordings and motion picture films. The resource also provides a framework for evaluating file formats, and it summarizes the evaluation criteria for the selection of digital preservation file formats and the recommendations made by a handful of reputable memory institutions.
Members of the Digitization and Digital Preservation Discussion Group created the resource, which was one of many activities outlined in the NHDS 2018–2019 business plan.