Transcript A European network for digital preservation

Towards a European network
for digital preservation
Ideas for a proposal
Mariella Guercio, University of Urbino
Background: key steps
2001-2004
• Brussels report on preserving tomorrow’s memory
(1 March 2002)
• Council resolution (25 June 2002) on preserving
tomorrow’s memory(2002/C 162/02)
• Firenze Agenda approved on 16/17 October 2003
• The continuing action of UE Presidencies(20012004) to support initiatives on digital preservation
From the conclusions
of the Brussels experts meeting
• Key challenges:
– build advocacy and awareness
– avoid fragmentation of European policies and initiatives
– develop technical standards to ensure the sustainability
of the preservation function in terms of cost-effective
solutions
– plan and implement skills and training programmes to
promote the exchanging of knowledge between
organizations and across different sectors
– ensure coherence and continuity through and beyond
research and dissemination projects
UE Council resolution on preserving
tomorrow’s memory of 25 June 2002
The objectives and measures proposed for preserving digital
content for future generations are:
– stimulating the development of policies by building up cooperation
frameworks and mechanisms to exchange experiences and
policies; supporting relevant custodial organizations, examining
the organisational infrastructures and technical standards needed to
support stable and compatible networks of trusted repositories for
preservation
– raising advocacy and awareness through networks
– improving the skills grounding by creating mechanisms for
exchanging knowledge and skills
– stimulating research on problems and solutions
Firenze Agenda, October 2003
• Action Area 1: create awareness and cooperation
mechanisms by building consensus and creating a
community focused on policy makers and users needs
• Action 2: exchange good practice and develop a common
point of view by collecting information on current practices
and selecting and promoting the best ones for
dissemination and training
• Action 3: develop long-term policies and strategies as tools
to support the future preservation of digital resources
The continuing action of EU Presidencies:
the Den Haag recommendations (Dec. 2004)
• integration of policy and co-ordination,
• establishing a European co-ordination entity for setting
agendas and creating a coordination mechanism
• developing frameworks for small institutions
• establishing national networks with the aim of sharing
experiences, exchanging information and best practices,
developing training programmes
The continuing action of the UE presidencies:
the Den Haag priorities (Dec. 2004)
• developing awareness and responsibilities for stakeholders and policy
makers
• creating a European coordination
• supporting the development of national agencies or networks and/or
coordinated actions capable of involving various types of actors and
sectors (cultural institutions, research centres, professional
associations, e-government areas, private companies)
• involving and developing international consortia for common research
and political actions
• investing resources for training professionals and improving
educational programmes
The next step forward:
framework and aims for a coordination action
General aims:
• building awareness and creating consensus
• strengthening the existing national networks and
promoting new developments within a European
coordination action
• developing legal and policy framework and tools at
European level
• defining the basis and areas for common research
investments
• planning and implementing training programmes
Building awareness and consensus
Building awareness and consensus, by:
• organising events and information days
• publishing studies, tools and developing
web-services for dissemination among
various communities
• promoting basic training activity and
seminars
Strengthening or promoting national networks
within a European coordinating action
• Creating a coordination mechanism to develop a common
framework
• Building a service network for professional communities, a
help-desk service and other tutoring services for the needs
of network members
• Encouraging the creation of national networks by
involving actors from various sectors (public
administrations, professional associations, private
companies, research and training sectors)
Developing legal and policy framework
and tools at European level
• Enhancing European cooperation so as to achieve a more
intense commitment of Member States authorities
• Enhancing cooperation with the NRG and implementing
the action lines
• Defining a responsibility framework for the development
of initiatives at national level
• Identifying priorities and preparing basic studies to support
the work of policy-makers
• Analysing and comparing current legal and regulatory
contexts
Defining the basis and areas
for common research investments
• Conducting case studies and produce materials and elements for
developing best practices and guidelines
• Establishing an observatory for the analysis of technology trends and
risks
• Developing and adopting common research agendas by national
funding agencies and research centres with the aim of promoting
standards and recommendations
• Identifying research policies and organisational models on specific
issues (like metadata) as relevant aspects for implementing effective
results in the digital preservation function
• Promoting and implementing advanced training initiatives at European
and international level.
Tools crossing the activities areas
• Portal and web services
• Seminars and training
Need to discuss and define:
• The concrete framework of the project and the
related responsibilities for the main packages and
for some special tasks considered relevant at the
level of content
• The evaluation of the risks of a European network
project which is so wide in size and so complex in
its internal organizational aspects
• The identification of roles, with specific reference
to the need for a leadership but also to the
possibility for the best practices to emerge and to
be shared.