1. Digital Preservation: Needs in the RLG Community eLib Conference Information Ecologies: The Impact of New Information 'Species' York, 2-4 December 1998 Nancy Elkington, Research Libraries Group

2. Project Goals Develop and pre-test survey instrument Collect data on needs, accounting for: –diverse institutional types –wide-ranging needs –differing levels of expertise Use data to: –examine and evaluate existing models –recommend preferred archiving model(s) –develop guidelines in concert with others

3. Defining Project Focus Limited to data about “those materials for which your institution assumes responsibility for preservation” Include those institutions currently not addressing digital preservation

4. Summary of Results 54 surveys returned –9 European, 2 Canadian, 1 Australian –45 US 15 interviews completed Achieved broad representation Data analysis nearly complete

5. Data Gathered  Digital materials preservation policy  Digital holdings (take responsibility)  Formats of holdings  Methods of preservation  Digital knowledge/training  Future needs for services & training

6. Institutions Acquiring Materials in Selected Digital Formats

7. Institutions with Digital Preservation Policies

8. Formats Chosen for Archival Masters of Converted Materials

9. Preservation Methods

10. Preferred Methods of Increasing Staff Expertise

11. Recommendations (for RLG) Compile a concrete set of guidelines, standards, and best practices for digital preservation Provide leadership and coordination in emerging standards and practices for digital preservation

12. Recommendations (for institutions) Develop means to coordinate digital preservation activities within institutions Develop institutional policies for acquisition, conversion, storage, and maintenance of digital materials

13. Recommendations (for service providers) Develop trusted services and tools to support digital preservation in critical areas of need

14. Project Staff Margaret Hedstrom – Associate Professor, School of Information, University of Michigan Sheon Montgomery – Graduate Student Research Assistant, School of Information, University of Michigan Robin Dale – RLG Program Officer

15. Web Address for Report (forthcoming) http://www.thames.rlg.org/preserv/ Executive Summary in RLG DigiNews (December 15 issue) http://www.thames.rlg.org/preserv/diginews

17. Status of Survey Project Survey to all RLG members (April-Aug '98) Interviews (May-June '98) Analysis (Sept-Nov '98) Dissemination (late Dec '98) Pursue recommendations (Jan-Jun '99)

18. Digital Preservation Needs Assessment Result of recommendation by the RLG Preservation Working Group on Digital Archiving (May 1996) #1 Recommendation: “Develop a survey instrument to gather and analyze data about needed services.”

19. Age of Oldest Digital Holdings

20. Number of Different Digital Formats Held

23. Desired Consortial Services