ISSN 1039-3498 | no. 56 | April 2002
Understanding for Digital Preservation
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| Using the PADI web site www.nla.gov.au/padi |
Providing an international gateway to information about digital preservation, the National Library of Australias PADI web site at www.nla.gov.au/padi has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the very few environments where one can find the latest information as well as digital preservation resources in this fast moving arena. This capacity to deliver up-to-date and comprehensive information will be strengthened by a partnership between the Library and the newly formed Digital
Preservation Coalition (DPC).
On 31 January 2002 the Library and the UK-based DPC announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to work collaboratively on digital preservation activities. The reasons for this are succinctly expressed in the joint statement:
The parties recognise that the facilitation of the long-term preservation of digital heritage is a shared goal of the DPC and NLA, which can be enhanced by working together.
The collaboration, which will be principally in the provision of information about and analysis of digital preservation developments, will be undertaken by the Library through its PADI initiative.
As a new product of this collaboration, the DPC and the Library will jointly compile a Whats New in Digital Preservation electronic digest of selected new items added to PADI and to the JISCmail Digital-Preservation discussion list. The digest will be compiled as a quarterly list and as an annual edition containing an evaluation of the years additions in review.
Users of PADI will also now have access to resources relating to digital preservation initiatives and events in the United Kingdom contributed directly to PADI by the DPC. This will provide comprehensive UK input to the database and direct UK support for this international resource. In addition to pointing to padiforum-l, PADIs own discussion list for the exchange of news and ideas about digital preservation issues, PADI will also provide a direct link to the Digital-Preservation list archive from its news and discussion area at www.nla.gov.au/padi/forum.
Users of both PADI and the electronic version of Preservation Management of Digital Materials at www.jisc.ac.uk/dner/preservation/workbook, to be made available from the DPC web site, will benefit from the shared expertise of the NLA and DPC in writing and reviewing selected topics of interest to both resources. The PADI search function will be incorporated into the DPC resource.
The Library and the DPC both believe that they have much to gain through partnership. Through PADI, the Library aims to provide mechanisms that will help to ensure that information in digital form is managed with appropriate consideration for preservation and future access. It recognises the value of a shared approach to this task that incorporates experience and knowledge gained globally and across sectors. PadiUpdate at www.nla.gov.au/padiupdate enables registered contributors from around the world to enter data onto the PADI database.
The principles under which the Coalition operates include collaboration, openness and commitment to disseminating information and sharing outcomes. This is so that we can all learn and benefit as quickly as possible from transferable lessons and experience (both positive and negative). It has as one of its long-term goals, Forging strategic alliances with relevant agencies nationally and internationally, and working collaboratively together and with industry and research organisations, to address shared challenges in digital preservation. The Digital Preservation Coalition www.jisc.ac.uk/dner/preservation/prescoalition.html was established in 2001 and includes 18 major organisations involved in digital preservation in the UK and Ireland.
The Library currently coordinates and maintains the PADI safekeeping initiative to promote the permanent preservation of selected highly significant digital preservation resources www.nla.gov.au/padi/safekeeping/safekeeping.html. As part of this initiative, the DPC will work to ensure long-term preservation of the archives of its Digital-Preservation list and the DPC web pages. It will also contribute to the shared annual selection of new digital preservation resources for this initiative.
The Memorandum of Understanding represents a significant step for PADI.
This is not only because of the similar goals of PADI and the DPCbut also
because it extends the cooperative approach that has shaped the development of
PADI and which the Library believes will be crucial in securing our global
digital memory.
Hilary Berthon
| Contents list for this issue of Gateways |
Please address any comments and enquiries to The Editor, Gateways: dthomas@nla.gov.au