Scale is a predictable preoccupation as memory institutions collectively contemplate the growing amount and size of candidate content for preservation. To ensure that limited resources have maximum impact, we want our digital preservation systems to scale well in terms of capacity and marginal cost, or efficiently maintain their effectiveness as capacity is increased. Folks considering LOCKSS wonder how a system conspicuously touting liberal replication as a core feature could possibly be scalable.

In 2013, a team of librarians, archivists, curators, engineers, and other technologists workshopped then published the NDSA Levels of Digital Preservation, a resource outlining high-level, progressive enhancements in digital preservation practices across a number of dimensions. A naïve review of its application in the intervening time suggests that it is regarded as a legitimate assessment and planning tool, and a foundation upon which to articulate new and/or improved preservation best practices.