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RSS feedsDigital archives and content are causing problems for universities across the UK, according to the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC). It says that as academic institutions increasingly produce and rely on digital content, libraries are struggling with the technology to preserve digital content and face a lack of skilled archivists.
"Universities are creating digital resources, virtual learning environments and keeping digital research data sets, and these are creating information management problems," said Dr Malcolm Read, executive secretary of the JISC, in an interview with IWR.
"The sustainability issues of preserving these resources are coming to the forefront and vice chancellors are approaching the difficult issue of preserving digital content."
Alan Foster, director of information services at Keele University, said institutions are now beginning to realise that digital information needs " active management and forward planning".
"There is also a lack of clarity about the costs involved," he said.
JISC and the British Library (BL) believe that digital content is at risk because currently there is a shortage of skilled information professionals with the archiving skills required for digital content. "There is not the level of understanding needed for this type of information management," Dr Read said.
With library users increasingly demanding that resources are available online, JISC and the British Library have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop technology for access to educational content. "The UK has the best information in the world, and it will need the best infrastructure for this information," Lynne Brindley, BL chief executive, said.
The two organisations already work closely together on a number of projects including the e-theses pilot and the Digital Preservation Training Program. Brindley said few projects of this scale can be tackled "alone". Both parties are now committed to an annual work plan, liaison meetings and knowledge sharing.
