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ISSN 1039-3498 | no. 47| October 2000
PADI: campfire for global gathering
In a short time, PADI has taken a significant role in supporting and advancing the work of the digital preservation professional community. This was one of the findings of a recent report on the National Librarys Preserving Access to Digital Information (PADI) initiative.
PADI is a web-based gateway to articles, web sites and other resources about digital preservation. It has been designed to also assist users to understand the subject matter to which it provides access. Responses to the recent survey have provided an informative glimpse of the ways in which PADI has been used: Whenever I run into something new, I can read up on it quickly by finding resources linked to [from] PADI.
The National Library commissioned a survey of stakeholders and users of PADI in May 2000. Carried out in June 2000 by User Insite Pty Ltd, the survey was designed to assess levels of satisfaction with PADI as well as to provide information on how PADI was being used and suggestions for its future development.
The survey found that responses to PADI were extremely positive. Ninety-six per cent were very satisfied or satisfied with the currency of information and the navigation tools on the PADI web site. Eighty-six per cent regarded the scope of the site as appropriate.
Nearly everyone in the survey (97 per cent) had the PADI web site bookmarked on their computer. The crucial role that PADI is perceived to play in the library community is summarised in the following comment quoted in the report, if PADI did not exist, it would need to be created to meet the business needs of [my library].
Respondents tended to be drawn from an older group of professionals, mostly working in libraries, archives and in managerial positions. Fifty-five per cent of respondents to the survey were international users of PADI. The report found that this expert group has incorporated the PADI service into work routines.
The survey revealed that PADI had been used as a training tool, and to provide advice to customers. Its very accessible design and comprehensiveness were highlighted by someaccording to one respondent, PADI provides a site that I can reliably browse for updates without having to hunt around.
The survey found that PADIs discussion list, padiforum-l, was an integral part of the PADI service, being used by 90 per cent of survey respondents, who considered it to be a suitable vehicle for the exchange of news and research findings and the discussion of digital preservation issues.
PADI has been developed in partnership with many, including an International Advisory Group, established to provide advice and guidance on the initiative. The National Library welcomes feedback on any aspect of PADI: a survey designed to collect comments and responses from users is available at the PADI web site.
PADIs role of providing a much needed and valuable global cooperative effort to give order to the chaos of information out there on digital preservation issues was found to be a highly valued aspect of the initiative. According to one survey respondent, It is extremely valuable in sharing knowledge around the world in a rapidly changing field. It helps prevent individual programs from being isolated and falling behind on new developments.
And what of the future for PADI? The next big step will be the implementation of Phase 2 of the PADI Subject Gateway Project that will support the continued development of PADI as an international and cooperative initiative by facilitating contributions from registered users outside the Library. The National Library is keen to publicise PADI more widely and to guide the development of PADI as a global collaboration, or, in the words of one user, a campfire around which this community of interest can gather.
The PADI web site is at: www.nla.gov.au/padi/.
Hilary Berthon
Digital Preservation staff Deborah Woodyard (left) and Jennifer Hodgeman discuss the PADI (Preserving Access to Digital Information) web site, on which both regularly work. Photograph: Damian McDonald
Please address any comments and enquiries to The Editor, Gateways: gateways@nla.gov.au