BUILDING A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE IN DATA PRESERVATION

The critical need for optimal care and preservation of geologic and geophysical samples and data for future scientific research is now widely recognized within the scientific community. Various agencies in the United States, as well as around the world, have been making concerted efforts in recovering lost or damaged information while at the same time developing standards for preserving these valuable materials. These curatorial and data preservation methods and standards have changed over time as new technologies and strategies become available, and are often suited for use and adaptation by a wide array of archives and collections. The ability to share these ideas and educate the data preservation community creates a powerful resource for the efficient operation and management of repositories.

The U.S. Geological Survey’s National Geologic and Geophysical Data Preservation Program has developed an online community to assemble these data preservation strategies, and connect collections managers into a community that fosters collaboration and information sharing. This resource, developed within the myUSGS framework, allows members to access Wiki-style pages and provides forums for posting techniques, commenting on standards, and discussing issues. It is through community participation and dialogue that standards are developed, and practices are shared.

Membership in this myUSGS community is free and open to anyone interested in the preservation and management of data and physical collections. The myUSGS community manager grants access and authorship privileges to prospective users, as well as monitors content. Once approval for access is given, users are then able to add pages or edit information as techniques and the needs of the community change over time.