DCC/DPE Forum: Developing an International Framework for Audit and Certification
29 November 2007
Campus Adlershof, Humboldt University Berlin
Evidence-based evaluation has been used successfully for many years to establish trust in traditional repositories such as museums and archives. It is, however, a mistake to assume that the trust earned by a repository that successfully manages and preserves analogue material can be transferred to their digital holdings. Such cavalier assumptions pose a substantial threat to the long-term accessibility and reusability of our collective memory and scholarship. Recent international activity has championed the need for evidence-based evaluation of digital repositories. However, the work to date has focussed largely on the development of a criteria checklist and on the audit itself. Considerably less thought has been committed to the shape of the overall certification framework that by necessity must surround it. This seminar aims to bring together repository practitioners, professional auditors, representatives from international funding bodies, and members of the research community to determine the feasibility of digital repository certification on an international scale.
Programme
09:00 - 09:15
Introduction from Chair: Raivo Ruusalepp, DigitalPreservationEurope (DPE)
09:15-09:45
An overview of self-audit activity
Andrew McHugh, Digital Curation Centre (DCC)
09:45-10:15
An overview of TRAC activity
Marie Waltz, CRL
10:45-11:15
DINI certification, Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University (tbc)
11:15-11:45
Standardisation efforts - Birds of a Feather Group, David Giaretta, STFC
(tbc)
These scene-setting presentations will be followed by a moderated discussion session to explore questions such as:
- What characteristics do we expect from accredited certification bodies?
- Will these bodies be national or international in scope?
- How will they receive their mandate?
- How will audit and certification bodies be funded?
- When will audits take place (frequency/motivation) and who will carry them out?
- What will be the consequences of certified repositories' subsequent failure?
- If standards slip can certification be lost? Will this permit a period in which they may recover standards?
- What levels of certification will be available?
Registration:
Registration is free for participants of the DCC/DPE/DRIVER/Nestor Joint Workshop. For all other participants, the registration fee is 50 euros.