“Training budgets are under a lot of pressure just now, but the need for skills in digital preservation continues to grow”, explained William Kilbride of the DPC. “We decided we would try to increase the number of scholarships this year because they have been very popular.  This is the largest number we’ve so far funded through DPTP.  We’re delighted to be able to support our members in this way.”

 

“Best practice in digital preservation has developed considerably in the last few years but the need for dissemination has been a constant,” explained Richard Ovenden, Assistant Director of the Bodleian Libraries at Oxford University as well as Chair of the DPC. “The DPC’s Leadership Programme brings direct benefit to the recipients who will be able to bring latest thinking back to their own institutions.”

Applicants were judged against three main criteria: the role that DPTP would play in career development; the benefits to a DPC member organisation from attendance and the extent to which the applicant’s job profile within the organisation pertains to digital preservation. Applications were open to DPC members and associates and reviewed by a small committee of the DPC and ULCC who teach the course.

The Digital Preservation Training Programme (DPTP) is designed for all those working in institutional information management who are grappling with fundamental issues of digital preservation. It provides the skills and knowledge necessary for institutions to combine organisational and technological perspectives, and devise an appropriate response to the challenges that digital preservation needs present. DPTP is operated and organised by the University of London Computer Centre in collaboration with the DPC.

 

“Understanding the underlying principles and benefits of digital preservation is paramount in today’s digital society. The wide range of organisation attending DPTP demonstrate that maintaining digital assets isn’t just the domain of libraries and archives but of significant importance across sectors and industries,” said Patricia Sleeman, DPTP Project Manager at ULCC. “This is the sixth time the DPC Leadership programme has supported DPTP in this way and it has now offered 32 scholarships so that members can attend the course.”

 

The next DPTP will be held at the School of Oriental and African Studies, off Russell Square, London from the 14th – 16th November 2011.

 

For more information on the DPC see: http://www.dpconline.org/ and for more on the Digital Preservation Training Programme see: http://www.dptp.org/.

 

For more information please contact:

Frank Steiner

Marketing Manager

University of London Computer Centre

+44 (0)20 7863 1322