The document discusses a program called the CTDA that helps organizations better preserve their digital assets through facilitated participation in shared infrastructure with local control. The CTDA provides preservation services, but does not control how organizations use or share their content. It aims to make technology invisible and minimize demands on participants while providing options for digital preservation and information organization. The goal is to empower participants as stewards of their own digital content.

1. We Don’t Make Your
Preservation Program,
We Make Your
Preservation Program
Better
Open Repositories 2015
Greg Colati
Assistant University Librarian For Archives,
Special Collections & Digital Curation
Jennifer Eustis
Digital Repository Content Administrator
Ridgefield Canning Center
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:860021385

2. The Fun Starts Here
The CTDA is a program (not a repository)
that enables owners to become better
stewards through
• Facilitated participation
• Shared infrastructure
• Local control of content
• Coherent set of services
• Collaborative development of the
program
Savin Rock, CT
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:12355

3. Connect: Participants and users interact
with the repository and each other in
various ways with as little interference
from the CTDA as possible.
Preserve: Preservation of access in
whatever forms and schemas users
require.
Share: Facilitates sharing of content, but
does not control or determine how,
where, or why.

4. Make the Technology Invisible

5. Ownership vs. Stewardship
• Participants retain ownership of all
content, metadata, derivatives
• Participants bear the stewardship cost of
ownership.
• CTDA subsidizes the financial cost of
preservation and technology
infrastructure
Fourth Liberty Loan
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:947

6. What a Wonderful World
The CTDA demands from the
participants no more than
preservation requires;
The CTDA provides to participants a
means to do more, should they
wish.
Book plate, Ercolini Collection
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:859908328

7. Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom
We are not the guardians of digital content.
Non-judgmental regarding content and
metadata. Everyone and everything is
welcome:
Two requirements: that you have the right to
deposit, and that the content is not
malicious/destructive to the system.
We expect that we will make available as much
“good” content in this way as the big brother
approaches, AND we will preserve more
“locally good” content.
Flower arrangement
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:199722502

8. Everybody in the Same Boat, Nobody Drilling
The CTDA relies on collaborations between and with
participants, a constant give and take about content,
needs, tools & initiatives.
One the one hand, initiatives from one help another
partner and vice versa. Through collaborative effort a
suite of tools can be offered as well as developed for
the future.
On the other, partners have different needs.
Approaches to digital preservation or information
organization vary based on the needs of each partner
and their user groups.
Launching the Balsto, Groton Iron Works, Noank, July 2, 1918
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:12134

9. Do Your Own Thing
This means not prescribing one
way to organize, add, or manage
content.
This means letting partners make
their own decisions about
organization of content and how
to add and manage it.
Esso Service Center, Derby and Forrest Roads, New Haven
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:199702965

10. Service Catalog
Participants can select service(s) a la carte for
long-term preservation of digital assets.
• Participants may:
• Deposit Content
• Access Content
• Add and manage content
• CTDA provides at no cost:
• Repository & Preservation services up to 500GB
• Community Management services
• End User support
• System management support
• CTDA provides at cost:
• Additional preservation storage
• Channel (or independent site) services
• Data curation services
Jerry’s Radio and TV Service, 628 Park Street Hartford
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:9925

11. True Cost of Ownership is Stewardship
Instead of imposing the program’s ideas
everyone, we welcome different
approaches while educating participants
about CTDA technologies and services.
Owners become stewards, considering
the options of digital preservation and
information organization.
Because there are so many options,
stewards can often become lost,
anxious, or paralyzed.
Book plate depicting man hunched over at a blue desk
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:859908132

12. Teach the Children Well
The technical infrastructure imposes
some structure.
This does not affect how people
organize or describe their content.
We provide training and suggestions
on the different options available to
organize and describe content.
Strategies must meet participants’
and their users’ needs.
Whigville 2 room school
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/30002:1515

13. By the Book
Presenting strategies is not
enough. Documenting processes,
options, and the basics of adding
and managing content are
essential.
This documentation evolves and
becomes more varied as well as
focused to meet diverse needs.
Map of Voluntown, ca. 1737
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/30002:1897

14. Practice Makes Perfect
Education and documentation are
still not enough.
It’s necessary to have hands on
training and practice in a sandbox.
Encourage experimentation and
developing strategies as much or
more than learning how to follow
a procedure.
Army Specialized Training Reserve Program (ASTRP)
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:860025572

15. Reach Out and Touch Someone
Participants are people too. Learning their
stories helps understand who they are,
their goals and why they choose the CTDA
for the long-term preservation of their
digital assets.
Some will share their experiences. Others
will work silently in the background.
Keep in touch through email, ticketing
system, workshops, participant
consultations, and by phone.
Telephone (dial)
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:859919962

16. Policies: A Collaborative Effort
The goal of policies is to ensure a governance
that is fair to all parties and trustworthy.
Policies also need to take into account the
future of the CTDA and its ability to maintain
services now and in the future.
Though hosted by the University of
Connecticut Libraries, the CTDA has an active
Advisory Committee.
Bookplate by Bertha Gorst
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:859909675

17. Accept the Challenge
• Balance between being participant
centered and program centered
• Time management
• Handling change
• Avoiding not having enough services
• Participants don’t always:
• Want options
• Know their users
• Understand technology
• An image is worth a 1000 words –
make sure they’re yours Israel Putnam Duels a British Officer
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:11039

18. Warm Up the Bus
• Leave repository thinking behind: it’s
the program not the tool that matters
• Minimize monolithic thinking
• A-la-carte services require flexibility,
extensibility, time, and effort
• Learn to be non-judgmental
• Unravel the urge to control
• Participant centered services can be
empowering for everyone
• There is no right answer to strategies
and information organization
• Challenge assumptions--even your own
Women leaving Willimantic Train Station
http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:860018173

19. Credits
• Ridgefield Canning Center: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:860021385
• Savin Rock, CT: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:12355
• Fourth Liberty Loan: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:947
• Book plate, Ercolini Collection: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:859908328
• Flower arrangement: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:199722502
• Launching the Balsto, Groton Iron Works, Noank, July 2, 1918: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:12134
• Esso Service Center, Derby and Forrest Roads, New Haven: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:199702965
• Jerry’s Radio and TV Service, 628 Park Street Hartford: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:9925
• Book plate depicting man hunched over at a blue desk: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:859908132
• Whigville 2 room school: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/30002:1515
• Map of Voluntown, ca. 1737: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/30002:1897
• Army Specialized Training Reserve Program (ASTRP): http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:860025572
• Telephone (dial): http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:859919962
• Bookplate by Bertha Gorst: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:859909675
• Israel Putnam Duels a British Officer: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/40002:11039
• Women leaving Willimantic Train Station: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:860018173