For several years OCLC and RLG have jointly sponsored expert working
groups
on preservation-related topics.  The current group, PREMIS (Preservation
Metadata: Implementation Strategies), is international in composition
and
focused on the development of recommendations and best practices for
implementing preservation metadata.

PREMIS has just released a major report, "Implementing Preservation
Repositories For Digital Materials: Current Practice And Emerging Trends
In
The Cultural Heritage Community." 

This paper reports the findings of a survey focused on current
preservation
metadata management practices of digital preservation repositories
conducted by PREMIS in Winter 2003-04. It is the first of a series of
reports that will be released by PREMIS over the next several months.

Abstract:

In Winter 2003-2004, the PREMIS working group conducted a survey aimed
at
gathering information on key aspects of planned and existing
preservation
repositories for digital materials. Survey questions touched on a
variety
of areas, such as mission, funding, preservation strategy, and access
policies, but with an overarching focus on current practice for managing
preservation metadata in digital archiving systems. Survey responses
were
received from nearly fifty institutions located in thirteen countries,
and
included libraries, archives, museums, and other institutions. Analysis
of
the responses suggests that the digital preservation community is
beginning
to coalesce around several emerging trends in the use and management of
preservation metadata, which are enumerated and discussed at the
conclusion
of the report.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

on the PREMIS survey report (PDF: 668K/66pp.)
http://www.oclc.org/research/projects/pmwg/surveyreport.pdf 

about PREMIS Working Group
http://www.oclc.org/research/projects/pmwg/ 

Contact

Brian Lavoie
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http://www.oclc.org/research/staff/lavoie.htm