Digital Preservation and Stewardship Committee Terms of Reference
Purpose
The Committee on Digital Preservation and Stewardship (DDPS) is an ad hoc committee of CAUL-CBUA. Its purpose is to foster and advance digital preservation and stewardship amongst the members of CAUL-CBUA; to guide and enhance the capacity to undertake such preservation and stewardship in the Atlantic region but most particularly within CAUL-CBUA.
Authority
The Committee on Digital Preservation and Stewardship (DDPS) is created by, and receives its authority and direction from, the CAUL-CBUA Board of Directors.
Responsibilities
- Develop and adopt principles and guidelines and an infrastructure capable of sustaining digital/data preservation and stewardship.
- Develop initiatives to test and advance these principles and guidelines and build on infrastructure and capacities that may already exist as regards digital/data preservation and stewardship.
- Organize training and promote cooperation amongst CAUL-CBUA members to advance digital/data preservation and stewardship.
- Foster a culture within CAUL-CBUA committed to the sound management and advancement of digital/data preservation and stewardship.
- Liaise with other regional, national, and international bodies on behalf of CAUL-CBUA.
Membership
The DPS will be composed of four Directors appointed by the CAUL-CBUA Board of Directors and the Chair of the Steering Committee ASIN. In addition, the Chair with the support of the Committee may invite staff from member institutions. Every effort will be made to ensure that staff invited to participate in the Committee represent a cross section of the composition of CAUL-CBUA and the technical knowledge and content expertise needed to advance digital/data preservation and stewardship. The DDPS will be chaired by a Board Member of CAUL-CBUA selected by the CAUL-CBUA Directors on the Committee.
Activities
- Develop a cohesive set of working principles and guidelines that define the nature, purpose, role, scope and goals of a digital/data preservation and stewardship strategy for CAUL-CBUA.
- Inventory and identify existing data storage capacity and infrastructure at member institutions, and the expertise available to sustain digital/data preservation and stewardship.
- Undertake a gap analysis of infrastructure and expertise needed to adequately support and advance digital/data preservation and stewardship initiatives within CAUL-CBUA.
- Develop an implementation plan and actions to resolve any gaps that fall within the purview of CAUL-CBUA, and recommendations to CAUL-CBUA members that will assist them in implementing and advancing digital/data preservation and stewardship in their institutions.
- Initiate pilot projects using specific data collections to develop and test policies, procedures, practices, and strategies to sustain sound digital/data preservation and stewardship within CAUL-CBUA and its members.
- Secure external funding through CFI and/or other granting agencies or foundations with a view to advancing and carrying out such projects and infrastructure within CAUL-CBUA.
- Foster and develop the funding proposals and partnerships needed to achieve this sustainable framework.
- Develop and provide training to expand and enhance CAUL-CBUA’s and its member’s capacity to undertake, support and advance digital/data preservation and stewardship and build upon the infrastructure already in place.
Reporting
The Committee will report its activities and progress to CAUL-CBUA on a regular basis, including at the Board’s regular meetings. The Committee will work with the existing ASIN committees on related technology and content issues.
Updated: 2009-11-4
