Added on 23 July 2015


The Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) is delighted to invite you to join us for a workshop at the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, London, on 15th September 2015 which will equip collection managers, archivists, librarians and conservators with the skills necessary for ‘Making Progress in Digital Preservation.’

Digital preservation - representing all the activities necessary to ensure that digital objects and data can be found, accessed and deployed beyond the limits of technological obsolescence, media failure or creator dependency - is a growing challenge for agencies and individuals in all kinds of contexts.  Our generation has invested as never before in digital resources and we've done so because of the opportunity they bring. Digital collections have grown in volume, complexity and importance to the point that our children are baffled by the inefficiencies of the analogue age. Pervasive, fluid and vital: digital data is a defining feature of our age. Industry, commerce, government, law, research, health, social care, education, the creative industries, the heritage sector and private life depend on digital materials to satisfy ubiquitous information needs and expectations. But digital objects are fragile: at risk of loss, corruption or obsolescence, not to mention unlawful alteration or theft.  Collection managers, IT officers, academic researchers, broadcasters, developers and industrial regulators need to ensure that the digital collections which they use and depend upon are accessible for the long-term: but training in these new skills can be hard to acquire.

For several years now the DPC and partners have offered an introductory one day workshop called 'Getting Started in Digital Preservation' which is designed to outline approaches and tools which will help organisations assess their digital preservation needs and plan their response.  This has proven popular but we recognise the very great need to follow on with something which takes organisations forward in the response: from assessment into action.  This new workshop 'Making Progress in Digital Preservation' is designed to meet that need.  Responding to the greater subtlety required when implementing policies and plans, this workshop will examine three key areas of organisational needs: policy, resources and technology.  By the end of the workshop - which will include time for networking and sharing - participants will be equipped with practical targets for implementing digital preservation, as well as guidance and tools to make those targets achievable.

Who should come?

  • Collections managers, records managers, librarians and archivists in all institutions, but especially in commercial agencies
  • IT managers and chief technology officers, chief information officers in institutions or agencies with a need for long-lived data
  • Staff looking to gather or exploit 'big data' for corporate goals
  • Students and researchers in information science and related fields
  • Researchers with interests in research data management

Places are strictly limited and should be booked in advance. Registration is open until 8th September 2015 at 17:00.

Attendance is free for DPC members and costs £30 per person for non-members and can be paid by cash or cheque on the day or by cheque in advance (receipts will be issued).

For more information and to register for this event, visit the DPC events page.

Look out for more exciting event announcements coming soon from the DPC!