Greetings Digital Stewardship Colleagues,
Software is both a *utility* for accessing existing digital
collections and *cultural
heritage in itself. *The Software Preservation Network is a commons in
which we can think holistically and act collectively to preserve software.
SPN’s working groups and affiliated projects coalesce around five key
software preservation activity areas including law & policy, metadata &
standards, research, technological infrastructure and training & education.
WHO IS SPN?
Since 2015, the Software Preservation Network
<http://www.softwarepreservationnetwork.org/> (SPN) has worked to create a
space where organizations from industry, academia, government, cultural
heritage, and the public sphere can contribute their skills and
capabilities toward collaborative solutions that will ensure persistent
access to all software and all software-dependent objects. A dedicated and
growing community of practice has formed around SPN as we provide a
platform for project-based and programmatic efforts to align.
WHY SUPPORT SPN?
To date, the resources we offer have been built through grant funding and
the volunteer efforts of staff from dozens of organizations. Examples
include a U.S. Copyright Office 1201 exemption to preserve software,
software metadata crosswalk, software preservation webinar series, and a
software preservation research toolkit. Some of our most notable
initiatives include Fostering a Community of Practice: Software Preservation
and Emulation Experts in Libraries and Archives
<http://www.softwarepreservationnetwork.org/fcop/> (FCoP), Scaling
Emulation and Software Preservation Infrastructure
<http://www.softwarepreservationnetwork.org/eaasi/> (EaaSI), and Code of
Best Practices in Fair Use for Software Preservation
<http://www.softwarepreservationnetwork.org/bp-fair-use/>. Most recently,
in partnership with Harvard's Cyberlaw Clinic, SPN won a proposed exemption
for libraries, archives, and museums to break technological protection
measures
<https://clinic.cyber.harvard.edu/2018/10/26/a-victory-for-software-preservation-dmca-exemption-granted-for-spn/>
on software in order to preserve and provide research/educational access.
If you value the work we have completed to date
<https://mailchi.mp/38c7133cf342/stacktrace-news-from-software-preservation-network-september-october-2018>,
and if you would like to see SPN continue to build our collective capacity
for software preservation through research, advocacy, and educational
programming, then please consider supporting us for the next two years.
HOW TO SUPPORT SPN?
We are requesting financial support for a two-year start-up period to scale
SPN's services and operations. The deadline for submitting Participation
Agreements is December 14, 2018. If we are able to garner adequate support
between now and December 14, SPN will officially launch as a
member/sponsor-funded community on January 1, 2019. Through the financial
support of your organization, SPN will be able to continue working toward
our goal of “Saving Software, Together”.
To support SPN, please complete the *attached* Participation Agreement and
send to Jessica Meyerson <[log in to unmask]>. All questions (regarding
invoicing schedules, countersigned copies of the agreement, and more) can
also be sent to Jessica Meyerson.
Thank you all - enjoyed an inspired start to your week.
Kind Regards,
Jessica Meyerson (on behalf of the Software Preservation Network)
--
*Jessica Meyerson*
Research Program Officer
Educopia Institute
http://educopia.org
Working from Austin, TX
[log in to unmask] | 512-864-4575
|