We are launching a trial year for our new Individual Associate Membership (IAMOPF) at the Open Preservation Foundation (OPF). 

As the digital preservation field evolves, the need for specialised skills in digital preservation becomes increasingly critical. We have always been organisation-based as a Foundation, but we have recognised the unique value that individual consultants and contractors bring to our industry and are excited to offer a membership tailored specifically for them.

The OPF was founded to sustain the results of Planets, an EU-funded project. Today, our mission builds upon the principles of collaboration and sustainability. Our community begins with OPF members and expands to involve people around the world. We aim to be at the forefront of digital preservation efforts and build communities for sustainability. 

We have always operated as an institutional membership organisation as we believe that organisations across the globe can benefit from working collaboratively to develop shared standards and solutions. Our membership currently comprises institutions from around the world, charting the course for the advancement of digital preservation; however, we recognise the importance of individuals within this sector, and believe that together, we should have a united voice. 

With this in mind, we are launching a trial year of our Individual Associate Membership to try and expand our community, and provide a space where our members can continue to learn from the experiences of others, exchange knowledge and best practices, and discover new partners for collaboration. 

What Does the Individual Associate Membership Offer?

We work for you

By joining the OPF, you have the opportunity to have your say on what we do and how we can support your digital preservation priorities.

• Participate (non-voting) in our AGM and other selected OPF member events, workshops and training. 

Access to our specialised resources

Knowledge sharing is an essential part of digital preservation, and we facilitate a range of services and activities which enable the dissemination of ideas, insights and best practice throughout the community. 

• Access to OPF web demonstrators. Try out OPF products online, without the need to download and install the software. 
• Access to the OPF webinar archive. Our popular webinar series features expert speakers and draws participants from around the world and we encourage all of our members to present their work as part of the series. 
• Tiered priority registration for OPF webinars. Members receive priority booking for all of our events, including webinars,  and wider community workshops and training.

Professional development

By making members our key focus, we offer many opportunities to learn, debate and connect with like-minded professionals. Engagement occurs at every level, from simply being part of our IAMOPF mailing list to joining one of our working groups or hosting a webinar. 

• Participate in OPF virtual panels.
• Participate in OPF interest and working groups. We run a number of interest groups which meet regularly to discuss specific preservation challenges: our working groups bring members together to undertake specialised projects.

Networking opportunities

We are committed to showcasing the work of our members. The OPF can facilitate conversations and requirements sharing between technical providers and users.

• Unlimited access the IAM members-only mailing list.
• Access to quarterly drop-in meetings exclusively for IAM’s to touch base, get advice, and meet your peers. 
• Use the OPF logo on your website, and display your logo on the OPF website with a link to your website.
• Share your project outcomes on our members-only communications channels and social media if appropriate for the community. 

Prioritised support

Whether you are an experienced user, software vendor, or working with digital preservation environments and systems for the first time, we are here to help. 

• Access to Tech Clinics exclusively for IAM’s to help you adopt our open source tools. Any issues raised by members are our priority. We can also offer support interpreting the results from our products.  
• In recognition of the fact that the needs and challenges of IAMOPF members are not the same as those with big departments and large staff numbers, we will host drop-in sessions specifically for you. These will cover any aspect of your work and allow you to share challenges, ideas, successes and possible collaborations with your fellow IAMOPF members.

We believe that the skills and dedication Individuals can bring to the table make a significant impact on the future of digital preservation. By joining the OPF your priorities become our priorities. We can help provide the practical tools and resources you need, shine a light on your work, and provide access to an international and influential network.

If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]. We thank you for your continued commitment to digital preservation, and look forward to welcoming you as an IAMOPF member!