Drexel University (Drexel University, College of Computing and Informatics)

Drexel University’s College of Computing and Informatics, in collaboration with Old Dominion University’s Department of Computer Science, will investigate how best to preserve personalized digital advertisements viewed live by users. These advertisements have eluded conventional digital archiving methods and are not typically captured by archival crawlers. This two-year applied research project will inform best practice guidelines and recommendations, as well as the development of more effective tools for both reconstructing ads from previously archived content and archiving future web content. Activities include persona development, a diverse dataset of online advertisements, qualitative user studies, and dissemination of findings through formal and informal publications and presentations. Expected outcomes include improved digital archiving practices, enhanced historical records, and increased access to digital cultural artifacts. The project will benefit researchers, archivists, and the public. Subrecipient Old Dominion University will lead the second phase of the project: an evaluation of data concerning web archives’ holdings.