[DOC] AHDS strategic policy framework for creating and preserving digital resources

[Terry Kuny]

Apologies for any cross-posting.

Please circulate this announcement to other interested individuals
and organisations or lists as appropriate.

Digital Collections:  strategic policy framework for creating and preserving
digital resources
Version 3.1, 24/4/98
First Public Consultation and Review Draft
Neil Beagrie and Daniel Greenstein
Arts and Humanities Data Service Executive

The public consultation draft of this study is now available on the
web at <http://ahds.ac.uk/manage/framework.htm>.A final publication
draft is in progress. Comments and additions for incorporation are
accordingly welcome and should be mailed to neil.beagrie at ahds.ac.uk
and daniel.greenstein at ahds.ac.uk by 30 June 1998.

Background

The study is part of a programme funded by the Joint Information
Systems Committee (JISC)of the Higher Education sector in the UK,
following a workshop on the Long-term Preservation of Electronic
Materials held at Warwick in November 1995.

The programme of studies is guided by the Digital Archiving Working
Group, composed of members from UK Higher Education Libraries, Data
Centres and Services; the British Library; the National Preservation
Office; the Research Libraries Group; and the Publishers'
Association. The Group reports to the Management Committee of the
National Preservation Office in the UK. The programme is administered
by the British Library Research and Innovation Centre.

The study was based upon traditional desk-based research methods and
on fifteen structured interviews. Structured interviews, conducted in
person or over the phone or by email, involved senior data managers
and specialists working in organisations both in the UK and overseas
with experience in digitisation, data management or the long-term
preservation of digital information resources. Interviewees were
selected to provide a wide cross-section of experience of different
media types, and experience in different sectors such as national
museums, archives, and libraries; university computer centres and
data archives;scientific data centres; and research libraries.


Further review and consultation with professional organisations,
specialists and institutions with an interest in its contents is now
being sought by placing the draft on the AHDS webpages and inviting
further input and comments via appropriate email-lists and
correspondence.

The study has been researched and written by Neil Beagrie
(Collections and Standards Development Officer) and Daniel
Greenstein(Director) of the Arts and Humanities Data Service (AHDS)
Executive. The AHDS is funded by JISC on behalf of the UK Higher
Education community to collect, manage, preserve, and promote the re-use
of scholarly digital resources. Further information on the
AHDS and its constituent Service Providers is available from the AHDS
website <http://ahds.ac.uk>.

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Neil Beagrie                            Tel:   +44 (0)171 873 5076
Collections and Standards Officer       Fax:   +44 (0)171 873 5080
The Executive
Arts and Humanities Data Service        Email: neil.beagrie at ahds.ac.uk
King's College London
Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK
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