Are we good digital stewards? : a proposal to create and implement digital preservation policies, practices, metrics, and educational outreach for the University of Missouri system

Abstract

Providing long-term access to digital materials presents unique challenges requiring active stewardship. The librarians and archivists of the University of Missouri System (UM System) collect, curate, describe, and provide access to digital materials using specialized skills and tools, but in order to properly preserve and provide long-term access to digital content, we need to develop and implement unifying digital preservation policies and practices. Active engagement with digital preservation efforts places librarians and archivists in a leadership role within their scholarly communities, allowing for the creation of new initiatives, grant projects, and faculty research endeavors. To this end, we strongly recommend the creation of a digital preservation program centered in the UM System’s libraries and archives to guide digital preservation activities across all UM System campuses.