Programme of Activities The DPC is committed to building digital preservation infrastructure in both the UK and the global environment DPC carries out its functions via six Work Packages A Programme of Activities is also in place which maintains a global perspective and attracts a world-wide audience International collaboration is important to the DPC: Memoranda of Understanding with National Library of Australia (NLA) and Library of Congress Collaboration with Cornell on training programme Collaboration through working groups and task forces Although the DPC has a U.K focus, international collaboration is very important and the DPC is committed to maintaining and developing contacts both formally and informally with overseas colleagues.

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Six Work Packages Promoting Digital Preservation. Acting to increase funding. Fostering collaboration and forging strategic alliances. Producing, providing, and disseminating information. Promoting and developing services, technology, standards and training. 6. Continuing to develop the Coalition’s activities. These six work packages are wide-ranging and are designed to support the overall aim of the DPC, which is to secure the preservation of digital resources in the U.K and to work with others internationally to secure our global digital memory and knowledge base.

Six Work Packages Promoting Digital Preservation Efforts aimed at ensuring digital preservation is on the agenda of key stakeholders. This involves an advocacy and PR campaign, press articles, conference papers, the UK Needs Assessment, etc. Acting to increase funding Ensuring the nation’s investment in preservation Fostering collaboration and forging strategic alliances With relevant agencies nationally and internationally e.g. National Library of Australia, Library of Congress. Examples of 3 include Memoranda of Understanding with relevant agencies and forging links overseas via membership of task forces and working groups. The DPC currently has MOU with the National Library of Australia and Library of Congress. The DPC also provides focal point for collaboration, e.g. the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales seeking feedback on criteria for evaluating file formats. Collaboration with Cornell on developing a training programme based on their workshop has also been very valuable. Providing networking opportunities and acting as a catalyst also helps to foster collaboration and strategic alliances. For example, the UK Web Archiving Consortium (UKWAC) arose out of a DPC Special Interest Group on web archiving.

Six Work Packages 4. Producing, providing, and disseminating information Building expertise in digital preservation e.g. commissioning Technology Watch Reports and holding DPC forums. Developing the DPC website and producing quarterly reports of ‘What’s New in Digital Preservation’, monthly reports to members via Discussion lists 5. Promoting and developing services, technology, standards and training E.g. Initiating training workshops, so far held in Edinburgh, London and Belfast, and producing Technology Watch Reports, developing intensive digital preservation training programme Continuing to develop the Coalition’s activities Recruiting membership and attracting resources to support DPC’s goals

Activities – Regular events DPC Forums and Meetings Three held each year which focus on different themes Provide a key method for disseminating information on current activities and keeping members and other interested parties informed of developments in the field Also provides excellent networking opportunities Themes have included: Web Archiving; Open Source Software; Digital Curation; Cost/business models; Archives; Global Context; Institutional Repositories. Evaluation feedback has been very positive These forums are open to members and non-members of the DPC. Members are entitled to a free place or heavily discounted rate. Organisers set great store from any member feedback, and analyse feedback forms from the Forums. Requested themes/inclusions have included practical case studies, hearing from national institutions, what’s happening overseas, institutional repositories. The September 2003 Forum had the theme of Archives: adapting to the digital age and included practical case studies and demonstrations. The June 2004 forum addressed digital preservation in a global context and the ninth DPC forum in October 2004, with CURL and the British Library, addressed the subject of institutional repositories.

Activities – Regular events Training Workshops for DPC members: Three have already taken place in Edinburgh, London and Belfast DPC Website: The website is the major mechanism for disseminating information. A private members area is also available which holds information for members, technology reports, shared documents. Most popular is the online version of the Preservation Management Handbook. List Serve: The popular JISCmail Digital Preservation list has grown to more than 1000 members. A private list for members has also been created.

Activities – Regular events ‘What’s New in Digital Preservation?’ A quarterly report prepared by the National Library of Australia’s PADI and the DPC (UKOLN compiles this for the DPC) PADI, set up in 1996, is a comprehensive subject gateway to international digital preservation resources The reports list a summary of international preservation activities Information compiled from the PADI gateway and mailing lists It is important to stress that it is hard for individual members to keep abreast of activities in this rapidly evolving field, so this quarterly report is valuable as a current awareness tool as it succinctly summarises recent developments and activities. PADI stands for Preserving Access to Digital Information.

Activities – Regular events Advocacy Campaign – Initial Activities Little awareness of digital preservation outside of the information community – only one reference to digital preservation in 2002, before the PR campaign was underway. DPC embarked on a professional PR and Media Campaign to raise the profile of digital preservation in both national and specialist media PR consultant hired to assist with 2002 DPC launch Launch at House of Commons, February 2002 The people in the photograph, L to R are: Sarah Tyacke, TNA; Neil Beagrie, JISC; Linda Perham, MP; Lynne Brindley, Chair DPC; Rosie Winterton, MP; Bill O’Brien, MP; Reg Carr, Vice-Chair DPC; Loyd Grossman, broadcaster and presenter.

Activities – Regular events Advocacy Campaign – Initial Activities Twenty-five articles appeared in the national media in the first year of the DPC’s operation including a strong presence in the Guardian’s Online supplement. Now, selected projects are focused on and promoted in the media The DPC is keen to move away from general awareness raising to a more targeted approach within the digital preservation arena i.e. specific projects and areas of development, such as the Digital Preservation Award, and DPC Forums.

Activities – Regular events Advocacy Campaign – Ongoing Activities Initial DPC advocacy campaign activities have been followed up with an ongoing process of activities targeted at key initiatives. e.g. The Digital Preservation Award

Activities – UK Initiatives Preservation management of Digital Material Handbook Developed by Neil Beagrie and Maggie Jones in 2000. Online version to be developed further Available free at: www.dpconline.org Used as a basis for workshops and tutorials, and may be used for more intensive training programmes Offers a practical step-by-step guide for those involved in all stages of digital preservation

Activities – Initiatives Digital Preservation Award: This award, the first of its kind, is worth £5,000 and recognises achievement in the digital preservation field Sponsored by the DPC, it is aimed at encouraging creative and practical approaches to the preservation of ‘born-digital’ materials The 2004 winner was The National Archives (UK) for their Digital Archive. The CAMiLEON project received a Specially Commended certificate The Digital Preservation Award was sponsored by the DPC and integrated with the Conservation Awards, which have rewarded innovation in the field of traditional conservation for several years. The first DP Award attracted nine eligible applications and these were shortlisted to a strong field of five. A judging panel, chaired by Richard Boulderstone and consisting of both dp experts, media, and those with a strong interest in digital preservation, selected the winning entry, which was the National Archives’ Digital Archive and also recommended the CAMiLEON project for a highly commended category. Other shortlisted projects were JISC’s Continuing Access and Digital Preservation Strategy; the National Library of New Zealand’s Preservation Metadata Extraction tool, and the JISC/Wellcome feasibility study into web archiving. All five were very worthy contenders and the DPC Board was delighted with the quality of applications received. The 2005 DP Award shortlist consists of five applicants from the UK and beyond: Vienna University of Technology ('Choosing the optimal digital preservation strategy'); National Archives of the Netherlands ('Digital Preservation Testbed'); PREMIS Working Group ('PREMIS:Preservation Metadata: Implementation Strategies'); British Broadcasting Corporation ('Reverse Standards Conversion'); UK Web Archiving Consortium ('The Consortium').

Activities – Initiatives UK Needs Assessment Exercise: One of the goals of the DPC is to “get digital preservation on the agenda of key stakeholders in terms that they will find persuasive and understand” In 2003 a survey of DPC members was carried out to provide more detailed information on the current state of play in digital preservation. In 2005 a regional survey, funded by the MLA, was carried out. Both of these surveys will feed into the final UKNA report. The aim is to highlight priorities for action. An ITT for the consultancy will be announced in May 2005 with the aim that the assessment is completed by December 2005. The UK Needs Assessment will be a key means of achieving increased interest and activity in digital preservation over the next year. The first stage of the assessment was to survey all DPC members. This produced a rich source of information that has been used to build up a detailed picture of what is happening with regard to digital preservation and also what the major priorities for further action are considered to be. The second stage is due to commence in July/August 2005 with a report being produced by the end of November 2005. Follow up actions from the DPC Members survey include surveying smaller organisations and developing the Digital Preservation Training Programme (DPTP) in conjunction with ULCC, Cornell University and the British Library.

MLA Funded Regional Survey (2005) Activities – Initiatives UK Needs Assessment Exercise: MLA Funded Regional Survey (2005) DPC Members Survey (2003) UKNA Map of DPC Members Scenarios of Data Loss Increased training is also recognised as a big priority – a national in-depth training programme is another goal of the DPC. Surveys: Interviews Other Data

Activities – Initiatives Technology Watch Reports: These are user-friendly reports the DPC has commissioned experts to write. Authors avoid complicated jargon-filled language so that reports are accessible to all Reports focus on emerging preservation standards, technical formats, and developments in tools which are critical in assisting digital preservation activities Reports available on the DPC website: ‘Introduction to OAIS’ – Brian Lavoie/OCLC ‘Institutional Repositories’ – Paul Wheatley ‘Large-Scale Archival Storage’ – Jim Linden, Sean Martin, Richard Masters and Roderic Parker (British Library)

Related UK Initiatives JISC Digital Preservation and Records Management: JISC played a key role in establishing the DPC DPC and JISC are separate entities but JISC was one of the founding members of the DPC DPC is cross-sectoral, whereas JISC deals solely with Higher and Further Education sectors JISC have a Digital Preservation and Electronic Records Management programme There is often confusion about the roles of the DPC and JISC as JISC played such a key role in the establishment of the DPC. JISC was one of ten founding members of the DPC and agreed to provide staff support to form the DPC until a permanent staff member was employed. Because of this connection, the first registered office for the DPC was also JISC.

Digital Curation Centre Digital Curation Centre (DCC) is jointly funded by JISC and the e-Science Core Programme for an initial three-year period Consortium of Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, UKOLN, and CCLRC It will undertake research and develop tools to support effective digital curation, developing standards and certification. It will also pilot preservation services within the H.E. sector The DCC is not a data centre but set of central services, established to assist existing distributed digital data centres and institutional preservation services The overriding purpose of the DCC is to support curation and continuing access to data held in national repositories. The term ‘curation’, in the DCC’s definition, includes the active management and appraisal of data during its life-cycle. The DCC is not a digital repository but will provide essential support services and tools to those who are. The DCC wishes to promote the positive interplay between research, development, and services.

Differences DPC DCC Funding: E-Science & JISC Funding: via Membership c.£130,000 p/a Seeking funding to secure investment in preservation Emphasis on cross-sectoral involvement www.dpconline.org Funding: E-Science & JISC £1.3 million p/a Aimed at needs of HE/FE and Research Councils To develop repository of tools and file formats Registry of metadata standards www.dcc.ac.uk There are a number of differences between the two organisations that are worth highlighting. The DPC is a membership organisation and depends largely on membership subscriptions to fund its work programme. It is a cross-sectoral organisation and has a broad remit to progress the development of a digital preservation agenda in the U.K, and forging key strategic partnerships outside the U.K. The DCC has been allocated funding from JISC and eSCP over an initial period of three years. During this time they will undertake a specific range of tasks targeted at a fairly specific audience (though benefits should accrue to a much wider base) and aimed at supporting those who are already undertaking digital preservation programmes.

Links between DPC & DCC DPC and DCC… Both will provide Advocacy and Outreach Training and Advice will also be offered As well as differences, there are also obvious similarities between the two and areas where we expect particularly fruitful collaboration is likely to be in outreach and advocacy and training and advice. The DCC is a member of the DPC and this will enhance prospects for constructive collaboration.