Joint Information Systems Committee Supporting education and research

JISC Conference 2006Supporting digital curation to safeguard research data

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Supporting digital curation to safeguard research data:

role of the BL/JISC Partnership

Neil Beagrie

British Library/JISC

JISC Conference 2006

BL/JISC Partnership• Long history (eg. Warwick 1995) • Joint Partnership Manager since 2004• Formal MOU since 2005• Important collaboration for UK

Joint Projects, Services, Strategic collaboration

• Currently some 16 joint projects, services, and collaborations: • Some examples:

– Digital Preservation Coalition– DTI e-infrastructure (UK Science and Innovation Investment

framework)– EU research infrastructures – proposed Alliance for Permanent Access to Records of

Science– E-theses– Newspaper and audio digitisation

• Often involve BL/JISC and other partners

The Digital Preservation Coalition

• Raises the profile of Digital Preservation

• Runs advocacy campaign which targets stakeholders: Owners and Creators of digital resources; Funding bodies

• Provides examples of Good Practice

• Highlights where gaps and priorities for action and responsibility are

• Acts as catalyst for Action Builds partnerships, disseminating information; maintaining current awareness, develops projects

Rationale for the DPC

• March 1999: Workshop recommended establishing a Digital Preservation Coalition

• June 2000: JISC Preservation Focus post established. Its main priority was to establish the DPC

• July 2001: launch of DPC as a consortium

• July 2002: DPC becomes a not-for-profit Company Limited by Guarantee

• May 2003: New post of Executive Secretary was established, first full-time employee

• March 2006: 29 members of the DPC, comprising a wide cross-sectoral range. Subscription income of circa £150,000 per year

Timeline

UK Science and Innovation Investment Framework

2004 - 2014

Information Infrastructure

• 2.23 The growing UK research base must have ready and efficient access to information of all kinds – such as experimental data sets, journals, theses, conference proceedings and patents….

• 2.24 It is clear that the research community needs access to information mechanisms which: systematically collect, preserve and make available digital information;….

• 2.25 The Government [via DTI] will therefore work with interested funders and stakeholders to consider the national e-infrastructure (hardware, networks, communications technology) necessary to deliver an effective system.

E-Infrastructure WGs

• DTI Steering Group has:

– Commissioned roadmap study

– Established 6 sub-groups:

• Middleware and AAA and DRM

• Networks and computer power and storage hardware

• Search and navigation

• Information and data creation

• Virtual research communities

• Preservation and curation

– Each WG to report by end March 2006

Preservation & Curation WG

• Inputs to its draft report:– Warwick workshop outcomes– E-infrastructure roadmap– DPC national needs assessment– Input from WG members and virtual membership

Preservation & Curation WG

• Next steps:– Final draft report late March– DTI steering group provides combined report and

SR2007 submission

European Union

EU initiatives

• i2010– Consultation on cultural heritage (to Jan 2006)– Future consultation on scientific information

• FP6• FP7• 3rd EU Conference on Research Infrastructures

Nottingham Dec 2005– ICT and information infrastructure strand

EU Working Groups

• ESFRI• E-infrastructure reflection group• Taskforce on Permanent Access to the Records of

Science• Moves towards Alliance for Permanent Access to the

Records of Science

Conclusions

• BL and JISC are both large and significant players in UK and international activity

• Collaboration and partnership are critical part of digital preservation and curation

• Work at both UK and international level• BL/JISC partnership helps to promote this for benefit of

UK education and research