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Recommended Formats Statement


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XI. Email

i. Email
i. Email
  Preferred Acceptable
A. Formats -  email messages  No preferred formats at this time while the Library builds its capacity for email archiving.
  • For individual messages (as supported by client):
    • EML
    • MSG
    • PDF
  • For aggregated groups of messages (e.g., entire inbox or folder, as supported by client):
    • PST Unicode
    • PST ANSI
    • MBOX
    • PDF
  • Contact The Library of Congress for additional guidance.
B. Formats -  attachments

Attachments and embedded data should remain in their original format.

C. Delivery Method

Contact The Library of Congress for guidance.

D. Metadata
  1. For all email accounts:
    1. Email account owner
    2. Email client and version (for example Outlook, Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, etc.)
    3. Platform (Mac, Windows, Unix, etc.)
    4. Active use dates
  2. As supported by format:
    1. Markers to indicate the start and end of each email message and attachments (if any).
    2. Metadata labels which identify email message parts including, at a minimum, Date, To [all recipients, including cc: and bc: copies], From, Subject, Body, and Attachment.
E. Technological Measures

Files must contain no measures (such as digital rights management [DRM] technologies or encryption) that control access to or prevent use of the digital work.

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