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From: "Victoria Walch" <vwalch@statearchivists.org><br>
To: <COSHRC-L@lists.Maine.edu>,
<archival_leaders@aall.archivists.org>,<br>
<archeduc@lists.archivists.org>,<br>
"Archives Listserv"
<archives@forums.archivists.org>,<br>
"Nancy Perkin
Beaumont" <nbeaumont@archivists.org>,<br>
<RECMGMT@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>,
<LOCALGOVT_ARCHIVES@lists.Maine.edu><br>
Subject: [AALL] CoSA Statement on Digital Access Partnerships<br>
Date: Tue, 1 May 2007 12:01:35 -0500<br>
Organization: Council of State Archivists<br>
Sender: archival_leaders-owner@aall.archivists.org<br>
Reply-To: archival_leaders@aall.archivists.org<br><br>
The Council of State Archivists is pleased to announce that it has issued
a “Statement on Digital Access Partnerships.” A full copy of the
statement is available at
<a href="http://www.statearchivists.org/issues/ocp/">
http://www.statearchivists.org/issues/ocp/</a><br>
<br>
The statement was developed by the CoSA Task Force on Online Content
Providers (OCP) and approved by the CoSA Board of Directors on Thursday,
April 19, 2007. It is intended to provide guidance to state archives for
engaging in partnership negotiations with online content providers such
as Ancestry.com, iArchives, the Genealogical Society of Utah, and others.
<br>
<br>
We believe that the advice it offers also will be helpful to other record
holders, especially local governments, who bear responsibility for public
records.<br>
<br>
Statement of Intent (from the document):<br>
“The members of the OCP Task Force believe that private/public
partnerships with online content providers present tremendous
opportunities for state archives and for the content providers. Such
partnerships also present challenges, which include: ensuring long-term
access to and preservation of the records for state archives users,
keeping public records public, protecting the rights of citizens,
ensuring the soundness of tax dollar investment and providing a
transparent view of the government process. Each state and local
government will have different options to consider when discussing
partnerships with private vendors. This Task Force intends to outline
these contractual considerations and provide possible solutions or
examples as developed by individual states and the vendor.”<br>
<br>
The CoSA Board has encouraged the state archives to use the statement if
and when their states engage an online content provider (OCPs). We have
also asked them share it with local governments in their states. We know
that many local governments have already been contacted by OCPs and
believe that the guidance provided here will also be applicable at the
local level.<br>
<br>
The Task Force on Online Content Providers will continue to work under
the leadership of chair, Mark Harvey (MI), to develop additional
resources. The Task Force will be discussing this statement with the OCPs
themselves, with local government associations at the national level, and
with genealogical and other user groups. <br>
<br>
The Task Force would appreciate hearing about experiences in negotiating
contracts with online content providers. Feel free to contact Mark Harvey
(<a href="mailto:mharveym@mi.gov">mharveym@mi.gov</a>) or CoSA President
Karl Niederer
(<a href="mailto:pres@statearchivists.org">pres@statearchivists.org</a> )
with any information or questions or information you might have.<br>
<br>
The CoSA Board of Directors commends the Task Force on Online Content
Providers for its rapid response to a this important challenge, and for
providing an excellent foundation for all of us to use in building
digital access partnerships. A listing of all state archivists and
staff who participated in the Task Force's deliberations appears at the
end of the Statement. They deserve our collective thanks.<br>
<br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
______________<br>
Janet M. Carleton - <carleton@ohio.edu> - 740/597-2527
<br>
Digital Initiatives Coordinator / Women's Studies Bibliographer<br>
Alden 235A, Ohio University Libraries, Athens,
Ohio<br>
<<a href="http://www.library.ohiou.edu/" eudora="autourl">
http://www.library.ohiou.edu/</a>></font></body>
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