Can be aimed at both internal and external parties and furthers understanding (partly its own understanding) of the mission, methods and credibility of the institution.

Intended to be binding for practice over a long period of time and offers a fixed point of reference for daily work as well as for further strategic developments.

Documents of the digital archive that cover related topics (tech-specs, strategy papers, etc.) should be in line with the preservation policy.

What are the aims of the policy within the organisation?

To which higher and lower-ranking documents can the policy refer?

Are future objectives distinguished from the situation as it stands?

Which user groups are significant for the institution?

How is the digital archive set up to meet the needs of its user groups and how does it ensure that user needs can be met over the long term?

How does the digital archive ensure that it is possible to use the archived data?

How, ideally, are scenarios for future use made possible?

What organisational structures are needed for digital preservation and how do they relate to the organisational structure of the institution?

Is the long-term funding of the digital archive secure and has it been ensured that available and required resources will be checked on an ongoing basis?

Is the necessary expertise on hand in the areas of object formats, IT, management and organisation?

Is there a central preservation management? How big is the team?

Are tasks, responsibilities, aims and processes clearly defined and known to all?

What are the core aims of the digital archive?

What steps have been taken to achieve these aims?

Are these steps made transparent, and to whom are they made transparent?

Which overall preservation strategy has been chosen for the archive?
(migration? emulation? a hybrid form?)

What measures are planned to preserve the significant properties of the archived information?

What preservation strategies and processes follow the archived information through the various archival phases?

How is preservation planning organized?

What aspects of the technical infrastructure have long-term significance, and are they formulated in accordance with the strategic aims of the institution?

In what form can technical aspects be included in the policy (difference versus other documentation)? What cross-references would be helpful?

Is the technical infrastructure in line with the professional, legal and economic requirements of the institution as well as with its technical possibilities?

Who has responsibility for the current document and who for the further development of the policy? Who can be given as the contact person?

What other general data are needed? Where can these best be included?