The Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) has awarded six scholarships so that members can attend the Digital Preservation Training Programme (DPTP) in Glasgow in May.

‘Feedback from members tells us that they really value the scholarships which the DPC makes available to members through its Leadership Programme’, explained William Kilbride of the DPC. ‘We originally advertised five scholarships, but after looking over the applications we found we had six really strong candidates who could demonstrate how the scholarship would make a real difference to their employer and have an impact on their career progression.  So we’re delighted to be able to make an extra award.’

The following applicants were selected:

• Ginevra House of the University of York who is a student with the Arts and Humanities Research Council
• Nicola Johnson of the British Library
• Neil Miller of the National Records of Scotland
• Meadhbh Murphy of Trinity College Dublin Library
• Hannah Smith of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
• Heather Stanley of the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland

Applicants were judged against three main criteria: the role that DPTP would play in career development; the benefits to their organisation from attendance; and the extent to which the applicant’s job profile within the organisation pertains to digital preservation. Applications were open to DPC members and associates.

'Digital preservation has made tremendous progress in the last decade, but expertise tends to be concentrated in a small number of expert groups,’ explained Richard Ovenden, Assistant Director of the Bodleian Libraries at Oxford University as well as Chair of the DPC. ‘Training events like DPTP are essential if we are to make more rapid progress in securing our long term memory. ‘ 

The Digital Preservation Training Programme (DPTP) is designed for all those working in institutional information management who are grappling with fundamental issues of digital preservation. It provides the skills and knowledge necessary for institutions to combine organisational and technological perspectives, and devise an appropriate response to the challenges that digital preservation needs present. DPTP is operated and organised by the University of London Computer Centre in collaboration with the DPC. 

This is the fifth time the DPC Leadership programme has supported DPTP in this way and it has now offered 24 scholarships so that members can attend the course. By guaranteeing a small number of attendees, the Leadership Programme eliminates some of the risks associated with organising and delivering specialist training in digital preservation.  This means that that the training providers can plan more confidently.  In this sense, all the participants on DPTP benefit in some small way from the Leadership Programme.

The Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) is a not-for profit membership organisation whose primary objective is to raise awareness of the importance of the preservation of digital material and the attendant strategic, cultural and technological issues. It acts as an enabling and agenda-setting body within the digital preservation world and works to meet this objective through a number of high level goals. Its vision is to make our digital memory accessible tomorrow.

 The next DPTP will be held at George House, North Hanover St, Glasgow from the 16th – 18th October 2011.

 For more information on the Digital Preservation Training Programme see: http://www.dptp.org/