We are a valuable resource for getting started on your digital preservation journey. We put our members at the heart of what we do, and every decision we make is taken with their interests in mind. As a member we would provide your organisation with the practical tools and resources you need, shine a light on your work, and provide access to an international and influential network.

Even without membership, we provide guidance and best practices for digital preservation. Our resources pages offer white papers, case studies, and guidelines to help you understand the principles and practices of digital preservation. Our training sessions, webinars and workshops cover topics such as file formats, metadata, storage solutions, and risk management. Participating in these events can help you gain practical skills. 

Our reference toolset is free to use, and can help you with tasks such as format validation, file characterisation, and metadata extraction. By leveraging these tools, you can automate certain aspects of the preservation process and ensure the integrity of your digital collections.

Many of our members value us primarily for our facilitation of collaboration and knowledge sharing among digital preservation professionals through our community forums, mailing lists, and events. Engaging with the OPF community allows you to learn from others’ experiences, exchange ideas, and stay updated on the latest developments in the field by joining our community mailing list here. 

If you have specific questions or challenges related to digital preservation, the OPF offers consultation and support services. Whether you need advice on developing a preservation strategy, selecting appropriate tools, or addressing preservation issues in your organisation, we provide expert guidance tailored to your needs. Our members benefit from 1-on-1 tech and comms clinics to provide specific support and advice.

While we are organisation-focused, we are in the process of implementing a pilot individual associate membership scheme which will allow self employed consultants and contractors to access our webinar archive and a handful of other benefits. Stay tuned for details coming soon!

Exclusively for OPF members, our monthly tech clinic provides personalised, practical support. You can book a one-to-one online session to discuss any technical aspects of your work, including the use of OPF products, implementing new systems, and understanding open source requirements and best practice. Join our member-only mailing list to be the first to find out when appointments are available, or access the booking form in the Member Area. 

Digital preservation is an important effort towards safeguarding our collective heritage and knowledge in this digital age. By preserving digital materials we ensure that invaluable information remains accessible for future generations. Technology grows increasingly vulnerable to loss and obsolescence, and so digital preservation efforts are a critical safeguard. 

At its most basic, digital preservation is ensured by employing strategies such as backups, format migration, and emulation. The effort is not just about preserving files; it’s about maintaining and sustaining knowledge. 

There are many factors that can put your digital resources at risk, including staffing changes and technology upgrades. These can have a significant impact on your digital preservation efforts, organisational functions, or even complying with legislation. 

The combined experience of the #digipres community shows that risks are varied and often subtle. These can include technological obsolescence, media decay or loss, data corruption, ethical considerations like copyright or privacy, resource constraints, and human error often due to the complexity and scale of workflows. 

Digital preservation can be overwhelmed with risks, and so it is important to evaluate the potential early in your planning processes.

Adopting a proactive approach to digital preservation and governance is recommended. The OPF is also in the process of developing resources to assist in having clear internal, departmental conversations. 

Another good place to start is by creating a formal digital preservation policy which outlines your organisation’s contingency plans for accessibility. 

Implement regular backups of digital assets and maintain redundant copies stored in geographically dispersed locations to mitigate the risk of data loss. Also, where possible, store your digital assets in stable and secure environments to minimise risks of damage over time.

Routinely check the integrity of your backups and confirm that you can still access the data.

To ensure transparency, accountability, and continuity in your work, document your preservation processes and decisions clearly, and conduct regular audits. This can reveal a need for training and highlight capacity issues. We understand the difficulty in this that often arises, and so we encourage you to consider becoming an OPF member so we can assist with your maintenance. 

There are some brilliant, in depth resources already available, and so we aren’t looking to reinvent the wheel with this response. However, if you’re looking for somewhere to start we recommend getting comfortable with existing policies, procedures, and workflows in the sector. 

• The Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) offers a comprehensive handbook titled How to Develop a Digital Preservation Policy which provides guidance on the key elements of a preservation policy. It is filled with case studies from all types of institutions. 
• National Digital Stewardship Alliance (NDSA) Levels of Digital Preservation is a framework that offers a tiered approach to digital preservation. 
• The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standards has developed several helpful standards related to digital preservation. 
• You can also access draft policies, such as this one from the National Archives UK or this one from the National Library of the Netherlands. 
• The OAIS (Open Archival Information System) reference model are also a recognised standard. 

It’s very easy to overcomplicate this process, as it has many moving parts. We recommend you choose your preservation tools wisely, and keep your budgets and capabilities in mind when selecting your digital repository systems, metadata management tools, preservation software, and storage solutions. If you choose to join the OPF, we can certainly help you on your digital preservation journey.

We recommend diving into the digipres community – we are a friendly bunch and are always willing to help! Everyone is in different places on their implementation journey, and there’s always someone with the same challenges as you and have perhaps found the answers you’re looking for. You just have to find them! 

We recommend learning as much as you can about  long-term storage, access, and general management of digital preservation. Some great places to start with this are the ‘Standards and Practices’ from this DPC webpage. 

The best way to stay informed is to engage with the community! Keep engaged with developments in digital preservation standards, practices, and tools by participating in professional networks, conferences, and forums. The OPF can help you collaborate with your peers to share knowledge, resources, and expertise.