Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL)
     
     Shared Preservation in Scotland (Stage 2)
     
     Background
     Stage 1 of the Shared Preservation in Scotland Programme (funded by
     the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, with contributions from
     non-SHEFC-funded SCURL members) has been completed by Dr Janet Gertz,
     Head of Preservation, Columbia University Libraries, New York, with
     the publication of her report Development of a Program for Shared
     Preservation in Scotland. September 1999. This work identified the
     components that should be included in a shared preservation programme,
     and the obligations that a library agreeing to take on a shared
     preservation responsibility would incur. The report identified the
     elements that should be mandatory and those which are optional or
     could be achieved over a period of time.
     
     SCURL is now seeking to appoint a Researcher to undertake Stage 2 of
     the Shared Preservation in Scotland Programme.
     
     Stage 2
     Stage 2 of the programme, funded by The Library and Information
     Commission (The Museums, Archives and Libraries Commission from 1
     April 2000), builds on the outcomes of Dr Janet Gertz's work. Stage 2
     will examine how the results of the investigation into the components
     of a shared preservation programme can most effectively be applied to
     research collections within a local, regional and national context in
     Scotland; examine how priorities can be set; investigate how such a
     shared preservation programme can link with Research Collections
     Online (RCO); and explore how special and named collections should be
     handled within a shared preservation programme.
     
     Methodology
     The person appointed will use Dr Janet Gertz's report as the starting
     point and will:
     · Investigate the definition, scoping and application of a shared
     preservation programme to a group for cross-sectoral libraries of
     different sizes and complexities, identifying particular factors
     relating to regional/national contexts, international material and
     research strengths;
     · Investigate the feasibility of linking shared preservation
     responsibilities with shared collection responsibilities and the
     suitability or otherwise of Research Collections Online (RCO) for this
     purpose;
     · Examine the particular needs of special and named collections and
     their relationship to the RCO framework;
     · Investigate the appropriate range of content for a shared
     preservation programme;
     · Recommend strategies for the inclusion or otherwise of various
     media, including the different mechanisms which may be required to
     encompass both traditional materials as well as new media materials
     and online resources (electronic and digital);
     · Set up a methodology for individual libraries in the group to
     identify collections for including in a shared preservation programme;
     · Investigate how the local priorities of individual libraries can be
     linked satisfactorily within a regional and national programme;
     · Establish the most effective online model for holding the results of
     a shared preservation programme, making it available, and keeping it
     up-to-date;
     
     · Investigate a suitable monitoring mechanism for a regional or
     national shared preservation programme; and recommend a `back-up'
     mechanism to cope with instances where local circumstances may render
     a library unable to meet its obligations in a shared preservation
     programme over a specific period;
     · Investigate the funding implications for libraries participating in
     a shared preservation programme.
     
     There will be a requirement to visit and consult with appropriate
     staff with preservation responsibilities in those SCURL libraries with
     major research collections, and to keep aware of and liase with other
     UK and international activities in this area.
     
     Deliverables
     The deliverables from the research proposal will be a demonstrator
     system for holding the shared preservation programme data online, and
     a report setting out the results of the research, making a set of
     recommendations on the implementation of its findings. A report will
     be delivered to the Museums Libraries and Archives Commission on time
     as required. The research will be written up and it will be promoted
     at meetings in Scotland and beyond.
     
     The project will be directed by the SCURL Collections and Services
     Committee, which is chaired by Michael Breaks, University Librarian of
     Heriot-Watt University.
     
     The post is for one year from April 2000, and the person appointed
     will be employed by Heriot-Watt University on Research Grade 1B at
     £16,286. A secondment would be acceptable and therefore the person
     appointed would be based in their home institution, but alternatively
     s/he would be based in the National Library of Scotland. The person
     appointed will be responsible on a day-to-day basis to a designated
     member of staff and through them to the SCURL Collections and Services
     Committee.
     
     Person Specification
     The person appointed will have:
     · A knowledge of collections, including general and special
     collections;
     · Knowledge of preservation;
     · Experience of working with cooperative initiatives would be
     advantageous;
     · Good interpersonal and communications skills; · Good IT skills.
     
     
     Letters of Application and a CV, with the names of two referees,
     should be submitted by Friday 7 April to:
     
     Mr Michael Breaks
     University Librarian
     Heriot-Watt University
     EDINBURGH
     EH14 4AS
     Tel: 0131 451 3570
     Fax: 0131 451 3164
     Email: [log in to unmask]
     
     17 March 2000
     



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