HomeReview of operations, June 2013
The Preservation Advisory Centre was created in 2009 as the successor body to the National Preservation Office. Operating as part of the British Library Collection Care department, the Centre acts as a focus for growing and sharing preservation knowledge. The British Library will continue its core strategic advocacy role, but Preservation Advisory Centre operations must now be reviewed as the Centre will not receive a subsidy for operations from the British Library beyond 2014.
The programme for 2013-14 will continue as planned, with all activities and services as advertised. During 2013-14 we will review what we do and how we do it, with a particular focus on how best to maintain our survey and training services. We are grateful to our Advisory Group for their input into this process and will keep you up to date with developments through these web pages and the e-newsletter.
If you have any comments or suggestions about our work, and the elements that you particularly value please email Caroline Peach, Head of Preservation Advisory Centre by the end of June 2013. Caroline will remain at the British Library until July 2013.
About
The Preservation Advisory Centre is part of the British Library Collection Care department. We help the collection community address the growing challenges of managing physical and digital collections for the long-term through our training programme, preservation management tools and information services. Our resources provide something for everyone whether starting out in preservation or seeking support on specific issues. With the support and experience of the British Library, we act as a hub for preservation knowledge, where collaborative working, skills and knowledge sharing can take place.
Our goals for 2013-2014 are to:
- Provide guidance and support on physical and digital preservation issues.
- Enhance the capacity for good decision-making and enable informed, cost-effective improvements in preservation practice.
- Grow and share preservation knowledge.
To achieve this we will:
- Act as a hub for preservation knowledge, sharing the experience of the British Library and other organisations through partnerships, seminars, discussion sessions, and published information.
- Create a framework for preservation activity that encourages progressive learning, the identification of connections between activities and the implementation of best practice.
- Review existing guidance, training and the Preservation Assessment Survey (PAS) service and develop as appropriate to better address the needs of digital collections.
- Encourage and participate in the development of resources that will help demonstrate the value of preservation activities.
What we do:
Flyer (PDF format) 479KB
Advisory Group
The work of the Preservation Advisory Centre is supported by its Advisory Group. Formed from stakeholders including senior preservation professionals with management knowledge and an understanding of the library and archive sector, the purpose of the Advisory Group is:
- To provide expert advice, national and international perspectives to support the direction and operation of the Preservation Advisory Centre.
- To provide a means of exchanging best practice in preservation and facilitate the development of a community of practice.
Supporters
The Preservation Advisory Centre gratefully acknowledges the contributions of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, The Pilgrim Trust, The Marsh Christian Trust, the National Archives of Scotland, Research Libraries UK, and the John Paul Getty Jnr Charitable Trust to its work during the period 2009 – 2012.
Background
The British Library Board established the National Preservation Office (NPO) in 1984 following the publication of the Ratcliffe Report. The principal needs at that time were felt to be the raising of awareness of preservation issues in libraries and the provision of a focal point for preservation management.
The National Preservation Office integrated with the British Library Collection Care department in 2009 and was renamed the Preservation Advisory Centre. This provided a focus for preservation and more opportunities for staff of libraries and archives to learn preservation management skills.
