Universities given key role in securing the UK’s digital legacy

Monday, 1 November 2010 8:24:09 a.m.

Unlike parchment and paper, digital data has a life span of years not millennia. Current estimates suggest that almost 3 billion euros worth of vital data is already being lost every year in the EU alone.

Now JISC is joining forces with The Open Planets Foundation (OPF) to encourage the UK’s leading universities to take up a central role in European-wide efforts to preserve our digital heritage. JISC is joining forces with The Open Planets Foundation (OPF) to encourage the UK’s leading universities to take up a central role in European-wide efforts to preserve our digital heritage.
The Open Planets Foundation (OPF) is a group of major research and national libraries, national archives, leading technology companies and research institutions established to provide practical solutions and expertise in digital preservation.

As a new charter member of the OPF, JISC will be encouraging participation amongst the UK’s leading universities, unlocking the academic interest in developing digital preservation technology, and ensuring the wider sector can address the growing challenge of preserving digital materials more effectively.

Bram van der Werf, executive director of the Open Planets Foundation, says: "Universities across the globe have a vital role to play in securing the future of our digital legacy. The OPF is absolutely delighted to be working with JISC to unlock the expertise of the UK’s top higher education institutions. Bringing together the creators of intellectual content with digital preservation practitioners, this partnership will tackle the challenge head on and ensure the creative output of today remains accessible for generations to come.”

JISC and the OPF will be exploring the best way of providing value and benefits to both UK higher education and the broader membership of the OPF.

Neil Grindley, programme manager at JISC, says: “We regard the Open Planets Foundation as an exemplary model for moving from a reliance on project funding to a more sustainable economic model. JISC is delighted to have an opportunity to join other charter Foundation members in setting up and supporting a community of digital preservation developers and practitioners.”

In time JISC will establish an affiliate group membership for those academic and research institutions that are looking to address digital preservation challenges.

This membership will give institutions the opportunity to:
• Be part of an active open source community that really makes a difference
• Learn about the workflow and requirements of digital preservation practitioners, shaping the development of academic programs and curricula
• Take advantage of the training, outreach and support provided through the OPF

Go to source: http://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/stories/2010/10/preserve.aspx

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