A 20-Year Evolution from Archive Management Software to Cultural Asset Management and Digital Preservation
In our latest case study titled: “Preserving London’s Past, Protecting Its Future: The London Archives’ Journey to Modern Cultural Asset Management and Digital Preservation“, we highlight how The London Archives (TLA), one of the UK’s most significant public archives has successfully scaled to manage over 6 million historical records using MINISIS Archives and the MINISIS Trusted Digital Repository (TDR), now part of the Soutron Global information management ecosystem. The article details TLA’s transition to Soutron’s next-generation Cultural Asset Management System (CAMS), a unified platform for archival, library and museum collection management system (CMS).
Scalable Archival Management Software: From 3M to 6M Records
“We have found MINISIS Archives to be reliable, easy to search and expandable to handle our growing collection size,” states Nicola Avery, Digital Content & Development Manager at TLA. “We’ve never needed to look for an alternative solution.”
The article underscores how MINISIS Archives has provided:
- Enterprise-level archives management for over 20 years, supporting large-scale datasets exceeding 6 million records
- Researcher service tools capable of supporting 120+ daily public requests, more than 43,000 annually
Combating Digital Obsolescence with Trusted Digital Repository (TDR)
In 2019, TLA addressed the challenge of digital obsolescence by implementing the MINISIS Trusted Digital Repository (TDR). Unlike standard database backups, this OAIS-aligned digital preservation solution ensures long-term accessibility through:
- Automated Fixity Checking: Continuous data integrity monitoring to prevent bit rot and data loss.
- Obsolescence Protection: Future-proofing born digital materials against evolving software formats.
- Authenticity Management: Preserving the provenance and integrity of London’s digital heritage.
A Confident Step Forward: Preparing for the Transition from Archives Collection Management to Cultural Asset Management
TLA is currently executing one of the largest cultural data migrations in the UK, moving its massive dataset into Soutron’s next-generation web-based cultural asset management system (CAMS), helping TLA provide richer visitor discovery experiences. Due to TLA’s new ability to provide a unified search across archival, library and museum collections, eliminating siloed databases, a more interconnected presentation of London’s history can be presented to visitors.
From the article, readers will learn where their transition confidence comes from as TLA is currently executing one of the largest cultural data migrations in the UK, moving over 6 million archives records into CAMS with exceptional success.
This is due to:
- Strict use of ISAD(G) metadata standards
- Deep expertise from the MINISIS/Soutron migration team
- Robust auditing, mapping, testing and integrity-focused processes
Nicola Avery described the migration as “pain-free,” citing the expertise of the Soutron/MINISIS team in preserving complex hierarchies and contextual metadata.
A Future-Ready Partnership
As TLA advances their usage of CAMS, they are set to unlock even more digital stewardship functionality. The team is looking forward to:
- Streamlined accessioning workflows
- More detailed provenance tracking
- Tools for exhibition planning, loans, and collection management
“The London Archives is a primary example of how a long-term technology partnership can future-proof history,” says Brad Frasher, CEO of Soutron Global. “By combining CAMS with the Trusted Digital Repository, TLA operates within a resilient ecosystem designed for digital stewardship. This ensures the story of London, from the Norman Conquest to the digital age, remains searchable and accessible worldwide.”
Find out more
Cultural Asset Management System (CAMS) – Archive, Library and Museum System
MINISIS Trusted Digital Repository (TDR) – Digital Preservation System
Search The London Archives Online Catalogue
Request an online demonstration – Take a closer look and find out more!