Data worth Preserving: An Exploratory Study of the Collection, Storage, Use, and Preservation of Research Data at Carolina

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) is exploring opportunities to support the teaching and research needs of its administrators, faculty, and students through the preservation and dissemination of its digital assets. Recent studies suggest that much of this intellectual output is at risk and may disappear unless stewards of this information emerge and take active steps to ensure its preservation for current and future use. This paper presents the results of a survey of 200 UNC faculty members that documents current processes and practices related to research materials. It serves as an important first step in a process designed to describe the needs and expectations of information producers on campus related to the collection, storage, and preservation of research materials

Adapting Digital Libraries to Continual Evolution

In this paper, we describe five investment streams (data storage infrastructure, knowledge management, data production control, data transport and security, and personnel skill mix) that need to be balanced against shortterm operating demands in order to maximize the probability of long-term viability of a digital library. Because of the rapid pace of information technology change, a digital library cannot be a static institution. Rather, it has to become a flexible organization adapted to continuous evolution of its infrastructure