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DIGITAL PRESERVATION PROGRAM ADDS NEW PARTNERS TO PRESERVE STATE
GOVERNMENT DIGITAL INFORMATION

Digital Preservation Network Grows to More Than 100 with New Partners

Twenty-one states, working in four multistate demonstration projects,
are today joining the Library of Congress's National Digital
Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP) in an
initiative to catalyze collaborative efforts to preserve important
state government information in digital form.
States face formidable challenges in caring for digital records with
long-term legal and historical value. A series of Library-sponsored
workshops held in 2005 and involving all states revealed that the
large majority of states lack the resources to ensure that the
information they produce in digital form only, such as legislative
records, court case files and executive agency records, is preserved
for long-term access. The workshops made clear that much state
government digital information-including content useful to Congress
and other policymakers-is at risk of loss if it is not now saved.
"The records of state government are of keen interest to Congress as
well as to the states themselves, and it is critical that we work with
state archives and libraries in their efforts to ensure that this
information remains available and accessible," said Librarian of
Congress James H. Billington. "I am committed to having the Library
play a leadership role in encouraging the preservation of these
important resources."
These partnerships expand the NDIIPP network to include state
government agencies. In August, the network added partners from the
private sector in an initiative called Preserving Creative America.
With these new partners, the NDIIPP network now comprises well over
100 members, including government agencies, educational institutions,
research laboratories and commercial entities.
"The Library of Congress is eager to welcome state partners in our
growing digital preservation network," said Associate Librarian for
Strategic Initiatives Laura E. Campbell, who is leading NDIIPP for the
Library of Congress. "These projects will help ensure long-term access
to critical information for both Congress and the American people."
The projects will collect several significant categories of digital
information such as geospatial data, legislative records, court case
files, Web-based publications and executive agency records. Each
project will also work to share tools, services and best practices to
help every state make progress in managing its digital heritage.
The states projects are the most recent initiative of NDIIPP
(www.digitalpreservation.gov), authorized by Congress in December
2000. A cornerstone of NDIIPP has been the establishment of a broad
network of partners committed to the continuing selection, collection
and preservation of significant digital content that is at risk of
loss. The total amount of the funds being made available to the new
partners is $2.25 million.
Following are the lead entities and the focus areas of the projects:

• Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, "Persistent
Digital Archives and Library System." Arizona will lead this project
to establish a low-cost, highly automated information network that
reaches across multiple states. Results will include techniques for
ingesting mass quantities of state data as well as developing a strong
data management infrastructure. Content will include digital
publications, agency records and court records. States working in this
project are Arizona, Florida, New York and Wisconsin.

• Minnesota Historical Society, "A Model Technological and Social
Architecture for the Preservation of State Government Digital
Information." The project will work with legislatures in several
states to explore enhanced access to legislative digital records. This
will involve implementing a trustworthy information management system
and testing the capacity of different states to adopt the system for
their own use. Content will include bills, committee reports, floor
proceedings and other legislative materials. States working in this
project are Minnesota, California, Kansas, Tennessee, Mississippi,
Illinois and Vermont.

• North Carolina Center for Geographic Information and Analysis,
"Multistate Geospatial Content Transfer and Archival Demonstration."
Work will focus on replicating large volumes of geospatial data among
several states to promote preservation and access. The project will
work closely with federal, state and local governments to implement a
geographically dispersed content exchange network. Content will
include state and local geospatial data. States working in this
project are North Carolina, Utah and Kentucky.

• Washington State Archives, "Multistate Preservation Consortium."
The Washington State Archives will use its advanced digital archives
framework to implement a centralized regional repository for state and
local digital information. Outcomes will include establishment of a
cost-effective interstate technological archiving system, as well as
efforts to capture and make available larger amounts of at-risk
digital information. Content will include vital records, land
ownership and use documentation, court records and Web-based state and
local government reports. States working in this project are
Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, California and
Louisiana.