Press Release 04-085
Digital Preservation Program Launches Research Grants Initiative

Library of Congress partners with National Science Foundation to fund advanced research into preservation of digital materials

June 16, 2004

ARLINGTON, Va.—The National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program of the Library of Congress (NDIIPP) is partnering with the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish the first research grants program to specifically address digital preservation. NSF will administer the program, which will fund cutting-edge research to support the long-term management of digital information. This effort is part of the Library’s collaborative program to implement a national digital preservation strategy.

"One of the most critical issues we face in the preservation of digital materials is a need for better technology and methods to manage these artifacts over long periods of time," said Associate Librarian for Strategic Initiatives Laura E. Campbell, who is directing the initiative for the Library. "We are very pleased to be working with the National Science Foundation to encourage important research breakthroughs. This will help the Library of Congress, as well as our network of partners who are working with us, to preserve America’s digital heritage for future generations."

The research program announcement coincides with the June 16 signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Library of Congress and NSF to collaborate over the next decade in a broad set of research activities related to digital libraries and digital archives. The formalized collaboration arose from a Library of Congress and NSF workshop in April 2002 that developed a research agenda in these areas. NSF and the Library will encourage other government agencies to continue research support for improving the state of knowledge and practice of digital libraries and digital archiving.

"The challenges of digital preservation require advances in many areas of computer and information science," said Peter A. Freeman, head of NSF's Computer and Information Science and Engineering directorate. "We are pleased to be collaborating with the Library of Congress to safeguard the digital record of our nation's history."

The new Digital Archiving and Long-Term Preservation research program, which expects to make to make approximately $2 million in initial awards using NDIIPP funds, seeks proposals in three main focus areas:

• Digital repository models
• Tools, technologies and processes
• Organizational, economic and policy issues

The NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Division of Information and Intelligent Systems, will issue a call for proposals shortly; check the NSF Web site at http://www.cise.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_display.cfm?pub_id=13106 for current information.

The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world. Through its National Digital Library (NDL) Program, it is also one of the leading providers of noncommercial intellectual content on the Internet (www.loc.gov). The NDL Program's flagship American Memory project, in collaboration with 33 institutions nationwide, makes freely available more than 8.5 million American historical items.

-NSF-

NSF Digital Government Research Program: www.digitalgovernment.org
Digital Libraries Initiative: www.dli2.nsf.gov

Media Contacts
David Hart, NSF (703) 292-7737 dhart@nsf.gov
Guy Lamolinara, Library of Congress (202) 707-9217 glam@loc.gov

Program Contacts
Lawrence E. Brandt, NSF (703) 292-8911 lbrandt@nsf.gov

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2009, its budget is $9.5 billion, which includes $3.0 billion provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to over 1,900 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 44,400 competitive requests for funding, and makes over 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

 Get News Updates by Email 

Useful NSF Web Sites:
NSF Home Page: http://www.nsf.gov
NSF News: http://www.nsf.gov/news/
For the News Media: http://www.nsf.gov/news/newsroom.jsp
Science and Engineering Statistics: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/
Awards Searches: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/