Qatar National Library (QNL) has joined the Digital Preservation Coalition, becoming the DPC’s newest Associate member.
Among its mandates, QNL has a remit to collect, preserve and provide access to heritage content and materials representative of Qatar and the wider Arab region. Collections are made available through the Library itself, as well as through its research library function to support education and research at all levels, and through its public library function which serves the metropolitan area. With each of these functions increasingly being fulfilled digitally, addressing issues of digital preservation has become a cornerstone of QNL’s operations.
As a national library, QNL also recognises an obligation to support other Qatari institutions from the cultural, research and scientific domains. QNL aims to develop digital preservation solutions for both its own needs and for those of its partner institutions.
“We recognise the significant benefit of the digital preservation support that DPC provides to a wide range of memory institutions and communities,” explains Susan Reilly, Director of Digital Content and Engagement, QNL. “By joining as associate member, QNL hopes to leverage the DPC support network for developing sustainable digital preservation solutions for the digital content important to Qatar and the region.”
“In welcoming QNL to the DPC we recognise that the ongoing challenge of resilient access to digital materials is absolutely international. I am delighted that the DPC is able to work with QNL to solve the emerging challenges we will all continue to face, for the benefit of the whole community,” says Chair of the DPC Board and Head of Data Division for STFC, Juan Bicarregui. “I look forward to a long and productive relationship with the team in Qatar and hope that their membership encourages many more to join in this collaboration.”
The not-for-profit DPC is an advocate for digital preservation and helps members to deliver resilient long-term access to digital content and services through community engagement, targeted advocacy work, training and workforce development, capacity building, good practice and standards, and through good management and governance. Its primary objective is raising awareness of the importance of the preservation of digital material and the attendant strategic, cultural and technological issues.
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