PERSIST, with the UNESCO Memory of the World Secretariat, is joining forces with the Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) to produce an Executive Guide on Digital Preservation. The Guide will provide an overview on the importance and urgency of digital preservation activities, including resources for internal advocacy initiatives. Leading the activity for PERSIST will be the Policy Working Group.

Executive Guide on Digital Preservation

The Guide is aimed at decision-and policy-makers in organizations which now rely heavily on digital media and need to secure their digital legacy. On the DPC side, these include memory and heritage institutions, commercial and financial organizations, government bodies and not-for-profits. On the UNESCO side, they include those in the member states who have a role in implementing the UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Preservation of, and Access to, Documentary Heritage Including in Digital Form. The Guide is intended to provide easy access to the points that need to be understood before decisions on preservation policies can be made and implemented. It will give senior executive and policy makers a firm grasp of the underlying issues for their discussions with stakeholders and implementers.

Work in progress

DPC will manage the project and the development of the Guide. UNESCO will provide a platform at experts meetings and forums for review and validation of the work and will publish the Guide through UNESCO channels. A joint DPC-UNESCO-PERSIST Advisory Group has been formed to oversee the direction and progress of the project. The Executive Guide is due in January 2019.

About the Digital Preservation Coalition

The Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) exists to secure our digital legacy; enabling members to deliver resilient long-term access to digital content and services and helping them to derive enduring value from digital assets and raising awareness of the strategic, cultural and technological challenges they face. The DPC offers support through advocacy, community engagement, workforce development, capacity-building, good practice and good governance.

Categories: PERSIST Programme