FAIR A2 for database evaluation

This feature and the entire section is in active development.

A2 – Metadata are accessible, even when the data are no longer available

https://doi.org/10.25504/FAIRsharing.7c4d7f

FAIR Principle A2 requires that metadata remain accessible even when the data they describe are no longer available. Within the ARK-based benchmarks, this principle focuses on whether databases provide publicly available information describing their commitments to preservation and long-term sustainability.

Preservation and sustainability information are important FAIR-enabling characteristics because users, funders, database managers, and assessment services need to understand how a database intends to preserve its records and how it plans to remain available over time. Such information supports trust, stewardship, and long-term reuse of the content represented within the database.

The ARK-based benchmarks do not attempt to evaluate the quality, adequacy, or implementation of preservation or sustainability policies. Instead, they evaluate whether databases explicitly provide information describing these commitments.

The metrics associated with A2 evaluate the presence of preservation and sustainability information represented within FAIRsharing database records.

Database FAIR-Enabling Characteristics

Context	Database FAIR-enabling characteristic	FAIRsharing operationalisation	Metric
🏛	Database declares a preservation policy	Presence of a non-empty Preservation Policy URL.	FAIR Metric - A2 - Metadata - Database declares preservation policy (registry evaluation)
🏛	Database declares a sustainability plan	Presence of a non-empty Resource Sustainability URL.	FAIR Metric - A2 - Metadata - Database declares sustainability plan (registry evaluation)

Future Work

Future versions of the ARK-based benchmarks may evaluate the content, quality, or completeness of preservation and sustainability information. The current implementation is intentionally limited to assessing whether such information is present and discoverable through FAIRsharing.