Email Archiving in PDF

Email is one of the most ubiquitous and widely disseminated, and also one of the least preserved and difficult to manage, of electronic document formats.  While the  preservation community has developed email-specific tools and preservation pathways, PDF provides a new and scalable approach that can be used to archive email messages, folders, and even accounts. This session provides an update on activities of the EA-PDF Liaison Working Group (LWG) by its co-chairs, Chris Prom and PDF Association CTO Peter Wyatt. The LWG is developing a detailed technical specification for the proposed EA-PDF (Email Archiving in PDF) file format, including requirements for EA-PDF viewing software and implementer guidance.  The session will:

• provide an overview of the objectives of a grant provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to the University of Illinois
• present EA-PDF uses cases and community needs, based on a survey and analysis completed by project graduate assistants
• Review work-to-date of the EA-PDF Liaison Working Group
• Present a summary of and request for comments on draft specification for and EA-PDF file format