The Digital Preservation Coalition are delighted to offer its members a preview of the latest DPC Technology Watch Report ‘Intellectual Property Rights for Digital Preservation by Andrew Charlesworth of the University of Bristol.

‘While a number of legal issues colour contemporary approaches to, and practices of, digital preservation, it is arguable that intellectual property law, represented principally by copyright and its related rights, has been by far the most dominant, and often intractable, influence,’ explained Andrew Charlesworth. 

‘It’s essential for those engaging in digital preservation to understand the letter of the law and to be able to identify and implement practical and pragmatic strategies for handling legal risks in the pursuit of preservation objectives. Moreover, those engaging in digital preservation need to advance a coherent and cogent message to rights holders, policymakers and the public with regard to the relationship between intellectual property law and digital preservation.  It is in the long-term interests of all stakeholders that modern intellectual property law permits both the implementation of effective and efficient mechanisms of digital preservation.’

This is the third of the DPC technology watch series to have been commissioned with Charles Beagrie Ltdas series editors.  Two more reports – on Preservation, Trust and E-Journals, and Digital Forensics for Preservation - are now well advanced and a further batch are now in development.

The managing editor has been further supported by an Editorial Board drawn from DPC members and peer reviewers who have commented on the text prior to release.  The Editorial Board comprises William Kilbride (Chair), Neil Beagrie (Series Editor), Janet Delve (University of Portsmouth), Sarah Higgins (Archives and Records Association), Tim Keefe (Trinity College Dublin), Andrew McHugh (University of Glasgow), Dave Thompson (Wellcome Library).

The preview report is now online for DPC members:

• Login or register for the DPC site
• Download the preview report

It will be available for general release in the third quarter of 2012.

The schedule and outline for a new DPC Technology Watch Report on Web Archiving is now available for consultation by members.  The full report is due for publication at the start of 2013. To see the outline, you first need to login or register, then download the outline.

What's New - Issue 46, June 2012

In this issue:

• What's On - Forthcoming events from June 2012 onwards
• What's New - New reports and initiatives since the last issue
• Who's Hiring - Job Vacancies from DPC Members
• What's What - Big Data, Big Deal? Marieke Guy, DCC
• Who's Who - Sixty second interview with Neil Grindley, JISC
• Feature The 2012 Digital Preservation Awards, William Kilbride, DPC
• Your View? - Comments and views from readers

What's New is a joint publication of the DPC and DCC

DPC is in the process of commissioning a second edition to its popular Technology Watch Report on the topic of 'Preservation Metdata' by Richard Gartner and Brian Lavoie.  This popular report was first published in 2005 and although it continues to be widely cited, the field has changed considerably since then.  The second edition of the report is due for completion in late 2012 and as with all reports will be subject to peer review. 

The Technology Watch Report Series is designed to meet the needs of members so, at this early stage, we are inviting comments from members on a draft outline of the report.  Comments, on any aspect of the report are welcome by 25th June if possible.  We're particularly keen to hear from people who have used or commented on the first edition recently.  The draft outline is available for members who need to Login or Register first, then access the draft outline.

The Digital Preservation Coalition is delighted to announce the launch of the Digital Preservation Awards 2012.

‘Threats to the digital estate are distinctive and new so the tools and processes necessary to ensure long term access – and impact – are also new’, explained William Kilbride of the DPC. ‘The DPC was established in 2002 to help agencies meet this new and growing challenge, and in 2004 we sponsored a small prize to mark outstanding contributions to the field.  It was so popular that we’ve offered the prize every other year since, and each time the quality and number of nominations has grown.

‘This year, the award takes a new form. In the past a single award was offered as one of the Conservation Awards.  But because 2012 is the tenth anniversary of the founding of the DPC, we’re offering 4 separate prizes, including a special ‘DPC Decennial Prize’ for the most outstanding contribution to digital preservation in the last decade.  There are also prizes for ‘Teaching and Communication’ and for ‘Research and Development’ as well as an innovative Digital Preservation Challenge being offered via the Open Planets Foundation.’

‘We’re calling on all our friends and colleagues - the whole digital preservation community - to help us get the best possible set of applications.’

‘The criteria are defined broadly, encompassing any initiative that has helped ensure ‘our digital memory is available tomorrow’, and although the DPC’s membership is in the UK and Ireland, this is an international competition.  We encourage all manner of proposals – projects, services, ideas, books, methodologies, standards, working groups and campaigns: all are welcome.’

The application pack is available online at: http://www.dpconline.org/advocacy/awards

The current holders are Los Alamos National Laboratory and Old Dominion University, who won the prize in 2010 for the Memento Project.  Other previous winners include the UK National Archives and the PREMIS Working Group.

Applications are due by the 17th August at which point they will be scrutinised by a judging panel drawn from the DPC membership.  A shortlist will  be announced in October and DPC members will be invited to vote for their favourite project. The winner unveiled at a special ceremony in London on 3rd December.

The Digital Preservation Coalition  is delighted to announce that registration is now open for 'Links That Last: Linked Data, Persistent Identifiers and Digital Preservation', a DPC briefing day at Lucy Cavendish College Cambridge on 19th July 2012.

This briefing day will introduce the topics of persistent identifiers and linked data, discussing the practical implications of both approaches to digital preservation.  It will consider the viability of services that offer persistent identifiers and what these offer in the context of preservation; it will review recent developments in linked data, considering how such data sets might be preserved; and by introducing these two parallel topics it will go on to consider whether both approaches can feasibly be linked to create a new class of robust linked data. Based on commentary and case studies from leaders in the field, participants will be encouraged to consider practical implications for their own work and new directions for research and development in the field.

DPC Members have priority access to registration and can attend for free.  Non-members are invited to register at a cost of 250GBP per place. Registration is online at: http://www.dpconline.org/events/details/47-linksthatlast?xref=49

If you are not yet a member of the Coalition then you are welcome to join us.  Details of how to join us are online at: http://www.dpconline.org/join-us

Two Posts at the British Library: Digital Preservation Technical Architect and Technical Lead

Digital Preservation Technical Architect
Location: Boston Spa, Yorkshire
Position Type: Permanent
Specialism: Information Technology
Salary: £34,391 - £39,743 per annum
Closing Date: 25/06/2012

How would you like to help preserve our digital cultural memory? The British Library is one of the World’s great research libraries, committed to providing researchers with access to reliable digital content now and into the future. Working closely with colleagues across the Library as well as internationally, this is a rare opportunity to ensure our digital resources are both sustainable and sustained for the long term.

Long term digital preservation of world class content is a challenge that requires effort throughout the digital lifecycle and a reliable preservation infrastructure. As Digital Preservation Technical Architect in the Digital Preservation Centre of Excellence, you will work closely with colleagues to:

• Contribute to the evolution of a dependable and scalable technical architecture for preserving the Library’s digital collections;
• Establish requirements and develop solutions to pilot, implement, and validate different approaches to preservation;
• Advise on embedding digital preservation into other Library systems and processes to enable complete end-to-end lifecycle management;
• Ensure preservation is addressed in BL digital projects and activities across the BL, especially during the development phases.

With a strong background in systems design and development, you will have excellent communication skills and a strong desire to continually improve and rise to new challenges that protecting the cultural wealth of the nation brings.

For informal enquires please contact Maureen Pennock, Digital Preservation Manager, on 01937 546302
For more information see: http://bit.ly/LfClUb 

Digital Preservation Technical Lead
Location: Boston Spa, Yorkshire
Position Type: Fixed Term
Specialism: Information Technology
Salary:  £34,391 - £39,743 per annum
Fixed term until 31 July 2014
Closing date:  25 June 2012

How would you like to help preserve our digital cultural memory? The British Library is one of the World’s great research libraries, committed to providing researchers with access to reliable digital content now and into the future. Working closely with colleagues across the Library as well as internationally, this is a rare opportunity to ensure our digital resources are both sustainable and sustained for the long term.

As Digital Preservation Technical Lead for the Digital Preservation Centre of Excellence, you will work with colleagues to develop and embed digital preservation technology within the British Library. At least half of your time will be spent on the EU co-funded SCAPE project to develop and implement scalable preservation tools and solutions for quality assured digital preservation workflows. You will:

• Ensure effective implementation and management of SCAPE Testbeds, content, and requisite tools at the British Library;
• Test and evaluate digital preservation tools on British Library collections;
• Work closely with colleagues in other business units to ensure tools meet business requirements;
• Integrate and embed effective preservation technologies in BL processes and workflows to ensure digital library content remains authentic and accessible over the long term;

You will be an excellent Java developer, with experience in tailoring software solutions to meet business needs. In addition to skills in planning, executing and fully documenting unit and system testing, you will be able to communicate effectively with colleagues and willing to travel across Europe when required.

For informal enquires please contact Maureen Pennock, Digital Preservation Manager, on 01937 546302
For more information see: http://bit.ly/LQNd8a

SPRUCE Digital Preservation 'Mashup', London 18-20th September

The JISC funded SPRUCE Project cordially invites you to the second SPRUCE Digital Preservation Mashup, central London, 18-20 September 2012. 

SPRUCE is organising a series of free events around the UK that will provide support and technical expertise to address the real digital preservation challenges that institutions face. The best work from event attendees will be awarded funding to develop the activity and embed it within business as usual processes. £60k is available for these awards.

Over 3 days at the SPRUCE Mashup London, a diverse community will come together to discuss, test, code (don't worry non-techies we won't force you to code), plan, and share challenges related to the new types of content entrusted to libraries, archives, and museums to preserve and manage.  The focus is around community, communication, and learning from one another for we definitely can't go it alone in the new landscape of digital content.  The result will be practical digital preservation tools which meet your specific needs and which are likely to be useful more widely. We'll also work with you to build a compelling business case for your digital preservation work, making it easier for you to secure the funding you need to make your work sustainable.

Registration is online at: http://sprucelondon.eventbrite.co.uk/%20http://wiki.opf-labs.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=13041673

DPC is in the process of commissioning a new Technology Watch Report on the topic of 'Web Archiving' from Maureen Pennock of the British Library.  The report is due for completion in late 2012 and as with all reports will be subject to peer review.  The Technology Watch Report Series is designed to meet the needs of members so, at this early stage, we are inviting comments from members on a draft outline of the report.  Comments, on any aspect of the report are welcome by 11th June if possible.  The draft outline is available for members who need to Login or Register first, then access the draft outline.

Vacancy at the British Library: Web Archiving Engineer

Web Archiving Engineer
Location: Boston Spa, Yorkshire
Position Type: Fixed Term
Specialism: Information Technology
Salary: £27,477 - £31,912 per annum
Fixed term contract until 31 March 2015
Closing date: 21 June 2012

Take your IT skills and passion for the web to a role where it will impact on research and learning for generations to come. You’ll not only enjoy working with cutting edge technology, but also have the opportunity to develop expert knowledge in web archiving and display your expertise on an international stage.

Joining the British Library’s web archiving team, you’ll manage and monitor the process of harvesting UK websites, and help build innovative and integrated access systems to make these resources available to our users. This will include the brand new large-scale UK web harvest (under the Legal Deposit Programme) as well as the established ‘selective’ archive, which focuses on those sites are representative of British social history and cultural heritage. You’ll ensure that they are effectively collected and curated, in order to increase their availability and access for users now and in the future. It is also your responsibility to make sure that harvested websites achieve appropriate quality standards and that our web archiving infrastructure operates securely, effectively and efficiently.

A background in archiving is not required for the post – we are looking for enthusiasm and technical ability. You’ll possess good technical, communication and interaction skills. In addition to knowledge of scripting languages and regular expressions, you’ll possess experience of maintaining Apache Webserver and Apache Tomcat on Linux/Unix systems, and managing applications in production environments. You’ll be familiar with SQL-queries, and you’ll understand the advantages and disadvantages of object-orientated languages with reference to at least one mainstream language (e.g. Java).

For informal enquiries please contact Andrew Jackson, Web Archiving Technical Lead on 01937 546602
For more information see: https://gs10.globalsuccessor.com/fe/tpl_britishlibrary01.asp?s=eziKhNSpCaRDiFfRax&jobid=89398,5698547254&key=69968115&c=860286528748&pagestamp=seqmsdilxhrtwdeobc