Introduction
The Digital Preservation Coalition is delighted to invite you to join them at a workshop which will equip collection managers, archivists, librarians and conservators with the skills necessary for ‘Getting Started in Digital Preservation.’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. Digital preservation – the series of managed activities necessary to ensure that digital materials remain accessible beyond the limits of obsolescence - is an issue which all organisations, particularly in the knowledge sector, will need to address sooner or later. Collection managers need digital preservation skills to ensure access to their growing digital collections, but training in these new skills can be hard to acquire.This day-long introduction assumes no prior knowledge except a willingness to engage with digital preservation. Through a series of presentations, case studies and exercises, participants will learn how to apply techniques of assessment, risk management and planning to help secure their digital collections.Presentations and exercises will help participants:
- Understand the range of issues associated with digital preservation
- Gain a clear understanding of their organisation's readiness to undertake digital preservation
- Plan for implementing bit-level preservation
- Survey and characterise a digital collection
- Undertake preliminary risk assessment to manage their own digital collections
- Meet and network with others locally working in digital preservation
Who should come?
These workshops will interest:
- Collections managers, librarians, curators and archivists in all institutions
- IT managers in memory institutions
- Records managers in institutions with a need for long-lived data
- CIO’s in organisations with commercial intellectual property
- Students and researchers in information science and related fields
Feedback from Previous Attendees
"Excellent presentations delivered in a very friendly, straightforward manner - pitched at the right level. Not too technical and scary!"
"Well structured. Nice level of information presented with lots of useful references. Very knowledgeable speakers."
"Presentations - excellent, informative and articulate. Very approachable and helpful during breakout sessions. Description of workshops reflected very well in content of presentations and excellent time keeping!"
"A lot of very useful info thoughtfully set out, and very approachable and knowledgeable presenters open to questions. Plenty of chances to talk to other delegates."
Course Tutors
Sharon McMeekin
Sharon is Head of Training and Skills with the Digital Preservation Coalition and leads their workforce development activities. This includes managing and presenting training events, oversight of the DPC’s scholarship programme and contributions to projects such as the new edition of the ‘Digital Preservation Handbook’ and E-ARK. As an invited speaker, Sharon has presented on the topic of digital preservation at a wide variety of events within the UK and abroad, including ULCC’s Digital Preservation Training Programme, ARA training courses, and as a guest lecturer at the University of Glasgow. With an MSc in Information Technology and an MSc in Information Management and Preservation (Archives and Records Management) from the University of Glasgow, Sharon is an archivist by training, specialising in digital preservation and is also an Institute of Leadership and Management accredited trainer. Before joining the DPC she spent five years as Digital Archivist with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland where she led the development of digital preservation policy and their repository.
Sara Day Thomson
As the DPC’s Project Officer, Sara undertakes much of the DPC’s project work, becoming involved with some of the latest research in managing, accessing and sharing digital content. She has recently authored two of the DPC’s popular Technology Watch Report series on ‘Preserving Social Media’ and ‘Preserving Transactional Data.’ She has also delivered conference papers and training to members on these and related subjects. Sara joined the DPC from the National Library of Scotland and the University of Glasgow where she studied Information Management and Preservation.
Indicative Programme
1000 – Registration open, tea and coffee
1030 – Welcome
1035 – Introducing Digital Preservation
1105 – Assessing Institutional Readiness
1125 – Maturity Model Exercise
1145 – Discussion
1155 – Bit-Level Preservation
1215 – Characterisation Tool Demo
1230 – Lunch
1330 – Creating a Digital Asset Register
1350 – Digital Asset Register Exercise
1420 – Risk Management for Digital Preservation
1440 – Risk Management Exercise
1500 – Comfort Break
1515 – Next Steps in Digital Preservation
1545 – Q&A
1600 – Close
Registration
Registration is free for members of the DPC and £50 for non-members. There is a limit of 3 places per member (incl. consortia and membership organisations) and these will be available on a 'first come, first served' basis. Additional registrations will be accepted but will be placed on the wait list until registration closes a week before the event, at which time they will be distributed equally amongst members. The workshops usually fill up quickly, so early registration is recommended. DPC members can claim their free place by entering the discount code DPCMEMBER. Tickets can be booked via Ticket Tailor through the link below.
Cancellations will be accepted until one week before the event, a 'no show' fee of £50 will be charged for those who cancel after this time.