The Cedars Project

Abstract

Digital Preservation has become such a pressing issue for libraries world-wide that it is easy to forget what an unknown quantity it was when the Cedars project began in 1998. The Final Report from the RLG/CPA Task Force on Digital Archiving was released in 1996 and this provided a catalyst for further action within the U.K. The Cedars Project was initially funded for three years as part of the final phase of the UK eLib project. An additional year was subsequently funded to enable consolidation and wider dissemination of its findings. The Cedars project made a significant contribution to digital preservation and was able to forge good working relationships with colleagues working in related areas. It delivered both heightened awareness of digital preservation as a critical strategic issue at the broad level, as well as some specific deliverables designed to provide practical support at the operational level. Now that the Cedars project has ended, the primary responsibility within the UK for ensuring the momentum is not lost will rest with the recently formed Digital Preservation Coalition. Significant developments overseas will also feed into the global digital preservation agenda.