<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META NAME="Generator" CONTENT="MS Exchange Server version 6.5.7036.0"> <TITLE>NSF financial support for Sustainable Digital Preservation</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY>  This note sketches a proposed CHM Software Preservation Group project, for which I solicit your reactions and comments. ============================== The National Science Foundation has opened a Request for Proposals for "Sustainable Digital Data Preservation and Access Network Partners (DataNet)".  The core of the RFP reads: "By demonstrating feasibility, identifying best practices, establishing viable models for long term technical and economic sustainability, and incorporating frontier research, these exemplar organizations can serve as the basis for rational investment in digital preservation and access by diverse sectors of society at the local, regional, national, and international levels, paving the way for a robust and resilient national and global digital data framework." For the full call, see <A HREF="http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503141">http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503141</A>. ============================== I propose that a small group of Software Preservation Group members organize and execute a bid for funding under this RFP, doing so in the name of the Computer History Museum.  Doing so would be entirely within the purposes and capabilities of CHM, at least to the extent that I understand the CHM mission. A preliminary and very rough notion of the work to be funded includes: (1) Implementing and testing the software needed for long-term digital preservation, with the understanding that this software is a small addition to available digital content management software (digital library software). (2) Creating and running a pilot digital archive, doing so in a computing environment sufficiently separate from CHM service machines to avoid impacting existing and planned CHM staff activities in support of the committed services of the museum.  This would be on CHM premises, but on separate hardware (funded by the NSF contract.) (3) Making the newly created software available as open source offerings to other institutions and to individuals who want to package other collections for long-term usability. (4) Ingesting a substantial body of CHM digital holdings into this archive, and offering public access to these contents. (5) Eventually turning over the pilot service to become part of CHM infrastructure, after adapting it for synergy with other CHM digital services and to require only very little maintenance. (6) Conducting at least one tutorial workshop for staff of other museums, archives, and research library institutions, doing this on CHM premises. Tentatively, I see this as a two-year effort, with pilot service starting at the beginning of the second year. The NSF schedule calls for preliminary proposals by October 6, 2008 and full proposals by mid-February 2009.  I.e., the actual funded work would not begin until roughly mid-2009. ================================ I see the required technical work as "a piece of cake".  The best available description of what I believe needed is a draft paper, Economics and Engineering for Preserving Digital Content, available as <A HREF="http://eprints.erpanet.org/141/01/LDP_Engineering.pdf">http://eprints.erpanet.org/141/01/LDP_Engineering.pdf</A>, and other writings it cites.  See also my article <A HREF="http://www.dlib.org/bonnie/january07/gladney/01gladney.html">Digital Preservation in a National Context: Questions and Views of an NDIIPP Outsider</A>, D-Lib Magazine 13(1/2), January 2007. Related information: there exists a newly established "Blue Ribbon Task Force on Sustainable Digital Preservation and Access".  See <A HREF="http://www.oclc.org/us/en/news/releases/200692.htm">http://www.oclc.org/us/en/news/releases/200692.htm</A>.  I have had a little correspondence with this group and have long been acquainted with some of its members. Lee Dirks, a member of this Task Force, informed me that in 2008 Microsoft Corp. will make available Microsoft Word extensibility features that much facilitate packaging text documents for preservation, more or less in line with the first paper mentioned above. ================================= Please let me have your reactions to this proposal. Cheerio, Henry H.M. Gladney, Ph.D. <A HREF="http://home.pacbell.net/hgladney">http://home.pacbell.net/hgladney</A> </BODY> </HTML>