Dear Friends,
As we look forward to progress and new initiatives across our community in the new year I want to take this opportunity to brief members on what I see as key DuraSpace strategic priorities for 2019.
Leaders from across the ecosystem of open source software projects that support the preservation and access of digital collections came together in December at the University of Michigan at the first meeting of Open Community Infrastructure to discuss bringing more coherence to separate communities and projects in order to address a variety of redundancies and inefficiencies. The following institutions were represented: University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Northwestern University, Indiana University, University of Colorado, North Carolina State University, Penn State University, Ohio State University, New York University, Stanford University, Columbia University, University of Iowa, Emory University, University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University, and Princeton University. The group looked carefully at the feasibility of a coherence model for a focused set of open source software projects that we collectively use for digital preservation and access, and to consider what it might take to move the ideal of coherence and interdependence into action. There will be a report issued on the proceedings in February.
In light of our community's recognition of the need for organizational coherence DuraSpace is planning for:
I'm thrilled to share news that DuraSpace and LYRASIS intend to merge their two non-profit organizations. The boards of each organization have unanimously affirmed their interest in pursuing a merger. A Press Release and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) published this morning has more detailed information. These resources outline a what a merged organization could look like and how it could bring eight global, community-supported technology communities under one roof.
Until we have an opportunity to engage of a more personal level, I want to take this opportunity to share why I'm excited about the intent to merge. I feel a combined organization will have increased capacity to:
- Amplify how to amplify our voice to a larger member base around the world in 2019;,
- providing Provide access to additional staff and investment dollars that will accelerate our work and build our momentum;,
- Provide new improving benefits to members that will strengthen our products and services;projects and programs,
- increased Increase opportunities for product integration that will bolster our OSS community-supported products as viable end-to-end solutions and alternatives to proprietary products;, and
- providing Provide more flexible support supports and services to OSS/community-supported projects/programs based on need and revenuetechnology communities, making it easier to support small or start-up initiatives.
President of the DuraSpace Board of Directors, and Dean of University Libraries at Virginia Tech, Tyler Walters expressed his excitement about the intent to merge, saying, “There is great potential for open technology projects and their invested research institutions to experience more value creation, lower costs of doing business, and an invigorated environment to lead and innovate through this merged organization.”
As always, thank Thank you for your continued support of our work on these this and other initiatives aimed at providing enduring access to the world’s digital heritage.
...
Executive Director
A Members-Only Hot Topics Webinar Summit
Our annual Member Summit will be held on April 10, 2019 in St. Louis after . A reception, following the CNI Spring Member Meeting. Please join us at a reception , will be held on April 9 . Add info from Pascal about synchronus Germany event (Carol). Add registration info (Kristi).9th. Invitations will be sent to representatives of each member organization the first week of February.
Where We'll Be (please update with upcoming engagements through March)
LDCX Fedora Workshop, Palo Alto, CA, March 25-27, David Wilcox
DuraSpace Summit at CNI, St. Louis, MO, April 10, Erin Tripp, David Wilcox, Andrew Woods, Valorie Hollister, Carol Minton Morris, Michele Mennielli
DSpace Anwendertreffen, Bamberg, Germany, April 11-12, Michele Mennielli
euroCRIS Membership Meeting, Espoo/Helsinki, May 27-29, Michele Mennielli