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Economic Sustainability and Economic Alignment: Examples from North America

Date

2012-08

Author

Trehub, Aaron

Abstract

Much of the literature on digital preservation focuses on technical solutions. However, recent experience from North America suggests that questions of governance and economic sustainability are equally if not more important than technical issues. This paper examines how three community-owned and community-governed digital preservation networks in North America have crafted policies aimed at achieving long-term economic sustainability and discusses their relevance for digital preservation initiatives in other countries.