University Libraries Join National Digital Stewardship Alliance

National Digital Stewardship Alliance logo

The U of A Libraries were unanimously accepted to become members of the National Digital Stewardship Alliance, an organization that "supplies advocacy, expertise and support for the preservation of digital heritage." 

The consortium currently has 264 partnering organizations. Serving on the Interest and Working Groups are Amy Allen, university archivist; Martha Anderson, head of digital services; and Katrina Windon, collections management and processing unit head. 

"NDSA is doing crucial work to coordinate national and global discussion, development and advocacy work around digital resources in libraries, archives and museums," Windon said. "Joining NDSA means that the University of Arkansas Libraries can be directly involved in these efforts, and, like our fellow NDSA member, UALR's Center for Arkansas History and Culture, represent the interests of our state and region as well as our institution."

Windon will serve on the Standards and Practices Interest Group, which is dedicated to finding best practices for all aspects of digital preservation. 

"It's important that archival practice keeps pace with ever-changing technologies and researcher needs, so I'm looking forward to the opportunity to work with colleagues from other institutions on these shared goals," she said. 

Anderson will be part of the Infrastructure Interest Group, which is currently studying and reporting on best practices for large-scale storage systems. 

"I have been involved with the NDSA since April 2017 when I was awarded a scholarship to attend the 2017 National Digital Stewardship Symposium," Anderson said. "The libraries will benefit by interacting with active digital preservation professionals nationally and discovering the best tools and workflows applicable to our specific organization."

Allen will collaborate with the Content Interest Group, which focuses "on the selection, discovery and preservation of digital content." Group members are conducting surveys on the various types of content being shared and preserved on the web. 

"NDSA sets industry standards that I have looked to for years," Allen said. "I'm honored now to be a part of that group."

Allen, Anderson and Windon are also certified members of the Society of American Archivists' Digital Archives Specialists program.

The U of A Libraries provide access to information that will support and foster creativity, study, teaching and research. The vision of the University Libraries is to be the vibrant and diverse intellectual center of campus in concert with the university's emergence as a nationally competitive, student-centered research university serving Arkansas and impacting the world.