What does the Library of Congress Recommended Formats Statement say should be deposited to preserve a software or video game?
For depositing games, the Library of Congress prefers, in order: uncompiled source, the gold master build, a distribution file (app package or executable), release media, then unpublished media. A video of the software in use can substitute when no preservation copy exists or online dependencies can't be recreated. Console or handheld titles need a virtual or emulated platform, deposited files must carry no DRM or encryption that controls access, and source deposits need rights clearance for the Library to run the compiler.
For depositing games, the Library of Congress prefers, in order: uncompiled source, the gold master build, a distribution file (app package or executable), release media, then unpublished media. A video of the software in use can substitute when no preservation copy exists or online dependencies can't be recreated. Console or handheld titles need a virtual or emulated platform, deposited files must carry no DRM or encryption that controls access, and source deposits need rights clearance for the Library to run the compiler.
Curator qualifications: Statements and guide read 2026-10-22; nothing deposited.
Limitations: Statements and guide read 2026-10-22; nothing deposited. No edition date on the page.
Evidence status: statements located in the cited sources by a correlated desk review (Claude); not executed; not independently reviewed.
Structured fields
{
"citations": [
{
"url": "https://www.loc.gov/preservation/resources/rfs/software-videogames.html",
"note": "LoC RFS IX Software and Video Games (live 2026-10-22)"
}
]
}Evidence claims
- [sourced_fact] For depositing games, the Library of Congress prefers, in order: uncompiled source, the gold master build, a distribution file (app package or executable), release media, then unpublished media. A video of the software in use can substitute when no preservation copy exists or online dependencies can't be recreated. Console or handheld titles need a virtual or emulated platform, deposited files must carry no DRM or encryption that controls access, and source deposits need rights clearance for the Library to run the compiler. · locator: LoC RFS IX Software and Video Games (live 2026-10-22) source
Rights
| component | license | hosting | redistribution | modification | training | Evidence and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| documentation | unknown | permitted | permitted | unknown | unknown | Applies to this original summary only, not to the cited sources. |