apologies for any cross-posting

dear all

thought this would be of interest - references to DPC as a European model and for national/FP6 investment in digital preservation should be noted.

Neil

Presidency Conclusions from the Workshop on Digital Preservation, Copenhagen, December 11, 2002

The workshop was organised by the Danish Presidency and took place at the Royal Library in Copenhagen. Present were experts and national representatives from the EU Member States as well as candidate countries and third countries, European Commission representatives, and the industry.

The meeting concluded that the issue of digital preservation is a very important one, though certainly broad and complex in its nature. Indeed, it was agreed that it is crucial immediately to take the issue further on the agenda of both cultural institutions, the industry, Member States, Commission, international networks and of other actors.

The meeting acknowledged the importance of the resolution by the European Council on "Preserving Tomorrow's Memory", adopted under the Spanish Presidency of the European Union this year, and underlined its conclusion to assign to both the European Commission and Member States responsibility for further assessment of the situation as well as concrete action. Also affirming the conclusions from the experts' meeting on "Preserving Tomorrow's Memory" held in Brussels, 1 March 2002, the meeting called upon the European Commission and Member States to take appropriate action immediately!

At the meeting, it was agreed in particular that research in the area of digital preservation is called for, and appreciated the clear acknowledgement of this within the 6th Framework Programme, and in particular the call to be publihed on 16 December 2002.

Discussing EU Member State involvement and coordination, the meeting agreed that further coordination is called for among digital preservation actors within each Member State. Discussing different models of cooperation (including the Digital Preservation Coalition in the UK), the meeting concluded that indeed such coordination networks are called for in each Member State, as appropriate.

Acknowledging also the need for coordination on an international level, the meeting found that national coordination networks could be instrumental in gathering the relevant national actors and thereby simplifying cross-border coordination efforts. In particular, the meeting found that the Commission could play an instrumental role in bringing such national networks and experts together on a European level, once they are established.

Referring amongst others to the preliminary findings of the working group to prepare a Danish policy for digital preservation, the meeting called upon all the Member States to develop their own policies and large-scale initiatives for digital preservation in cooperation with relevant actors, not least the momery institutions (museums, archives and libraries).

The meeting further concluded that partnership between cultural institutions and the industry is called for, seeking mutually beneficial cooperation while at the same time avoiding inappropriate dependence by focusing on open standards and solutions applicable to a range of institutions and contexts.

The meeting agreed that the issue of costs of digital preservation is a central one, though difficult to assess. Though acknowledging the international nature of the issue of digital preservation, the meeting stressed national responsibility for appropriate action and assessment of its costs.

A core theme within digital preservation, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and appropriate long term solutions for clearance of these rights were discussed at the meeting. After reviewing recent examples of solutions in the field, the meeting concluded that both on a national and an international level, this issue is crucial and needs to be addressed further.


*************************************************************************************
Neil Beagrie                         JISC Digital Preservation Focus
Programme Director             Secretary, Digital Preservation Coalition
JISC London Office,              Tel/Fax/Voicemail :+44 (0)709 2048179
King's College London          email:       [log in to unmask]
Strand Bridge House            url:            www.jisc.ac.uk/dner/preservation/
138 - 142, The Strand,                          www.dpconline.org
London WC2R 1HH              email list:  www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/digital-preservation.html

*************************************************************************************