Open Archival Information System

The Open Archival Information System (OAIS) is a reference model developed by the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems that has become the international standard for digital preservation systems. Formally standardized as ISO 14721, OAIS provides a conceptual framework for organizations managing long-term digital archives without prescribing specific technologies or implementations.

The model encompasses three types of information packages, submission (SIP), archival (AIP), and dissemination (DIP), that move through six functional entities including ingest, archival storage, data management, administration, preservation planning, and access. Originally designed for space agencies, OAIS has been widely adopted by major institutions including the Library of Congress, British Library, and numerous university repositories as the foundational standard for ensuring digital materials remain accessible and interpretable across technological change and evolving user communities.