[PADG:435] IMLS Awards National Leadership Grant to NEDCC

["Julie Carlson" <jcarlson@xxxxxxxxx>]

IMLS AWARDS NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANT TO NEDCC
to develop practical assessment tools for surveying preservation needs of
digital collections.

The Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC), the Museum Computer
Network (MCN), Heritage Preservation (HP), the American Institute for
Conservation (AIC), and the Center for Research Libraries (CRL) join to
complete a research project funded by the Institute of Museum and Library
Services (IMLS).

THE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT:

NEDCC and its partners will gather data on the current status of digital
collections through a large-scale questionnaire.

They will convene a colloquium of nationally recognized experts to explore
the issues in July 2005.

They will develop practical planning tools to guide the preservation needs
assessment process and support institutional planning.

THE QUESTIONNAIRE IS AIMED AT GATHERING DATA ABOUT:

the level of preservation readiness among museums, libraries, and archives
the current information technology infrastructure
types of digital collections currently being created and/or acquired
how digital collections are being delivered and accessed
how digital collections are administered and managed
how issues related to rights and licensing are being handled

THE PROJECT WILL BENEFIT MUSEUMS, LIBRARIES, AND ARCHIVES BY:

the creation of practical assessment tools and guidelines to assist
organizations in planning for the maintenance and preservation of existing
digital resources

the encouragement of further discussion and strategic initiatives for
assessing needs and finding preservation solutions

providing basic information for CAP surveyors, conservators, and regional
centers who are called on to direct institutions to digital preservation
resources

helping to identify experts with specialized knowledge who can assess
digital collections


FOR MORE INFORMATION ON NEDCC'S PROGRAMS AND SERVICES:  www.nedcc.org