Ten Years of Strategic Collaboration of Libraries in Digital Preservation

Authors

  • Monika Zarnitz ZBW-Leibniz Information Center for Economics (ZBW), DE
  • Thomas Bähr Leibniz Information Center for Science and Technology - University Library (TIB), DE
  • Ursula Arning ZB MED - Information Center for Life Sciences, DE

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18352/lq.10278

Keywords:

synergies, cooperate digital preservation, German National Specialist Libraries

Abstract

The German National Specialist Libraries cooperate closely in the field of digital preservation. One of the partners hosts the preservation system, while each library creates its own workflows and is free to ingest its digital material into this system. This paper delineates the factors for success of this collaboration. It describes the different aspects of collaboration in digital preservation and describes the benefits and costs of cooperation in this field as a case study.

Digital preservation is resource intensive and the required technology is complex. Therefore the libraries benefit from synergy effects: Reduced cost by sharing the preservation system, usage of similar workflows and formats of digital objects, work sharing in networking activities and staff training. The paper also stresses the advantages and difficulties while applying for certificates in a consortium. Their collaboration extends to intensive national and international networking activities, which yield more contacts than a single library could maintain if it acted on its own. The libraries’ staffs are active in working groups of nestor – the German network for digital preservation – and in working groups of the Open Preservation Foundation.

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Author Biographies

  • Monika Zarnitz, ZBW-Leibniz Information Center for Economics (ZBW), DE

    Dr. Monika Zarnitz is head of the department „User services and collection care“ of the ZBW-Leibniz-Information Center for Economics in Kiel and Hamburg

     
  • Thomas Bähr, Leibniz Information Center for Science and Technology - University Library (TIB), DE

    Thomas Bähr is the head of the department „analog and digital preservation“ of TIB Leibniz Information Center for Science and Technology University Library in Hannover

  • Ursula Arning, ZB MED - Information Center for Life Sciences, DE

    Dr. Ursula Arning is head of the department Open Access, Digital Long-Term Archiving, Data Research Management of ZB MED Information Center for Life Sciences in Cologne

Published

2019-10-04

Issue

Section

Case studies

How to Cite

Ten Years of Strategic Collaboration of Libraries in Digital Preservation. (2019). LIBER Quarterly: The Journal of the Association of European Research Libraries, 29(1), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.18352/lq.10278