The International Conference on Digital Preservation (iPRES) held its 20th annual gathering in Ghent, Belgium between September 16 – 20, 2024. This conference gathers digital preservation practitioners from around the world to present and discuss theory and practical applications in our work to ensure the longevity, authenticity, integrity, and accessibility of digital materials.

'#IPRES 2024' Conference dinner at Concertzaal in De Vooruit in Ghent, Belgium.
'#IPRES 2024' Conference dinner at Concertzaal in De Vooruit in Ghent, Belgium.

This year, session themes focused on getting started in digital preservation, environmental impact and budget restrictions, and the technology changes and trends in our field. Below are some of the sessions that were of particular interest, with links to the openly accessible presentation files. These sessions address digital storage in cloud environments, climate impact, and platform migrations, which are topics relevant to the RAC’s preservation planning. Of personal interest for me were sessions in the Start 2 Preserve track, which focused on lowering barriers to allow more people and organizations to get involved in digital preservation. Presentations from African attendees provided insights into the work being done, and what more is needed, to preserve indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage in the region.

Some iPRES 2024 Sessions:

View from a bridge of a canal in Ghent, Belgium.
View from a bridge of a canal in Ghent, Belgium.