We need to determine the authenticity of scholarly content in electronic resources and ensure that these qualities are preserved. In order to accomplish this, we need to actively promote the field of preservation to such relevant disciplines as computer science and electrical engineering. It is increasingly evident that no single kind of preservation professional can fill all the needs facing libraries and archives. We must recruit young professionals from these fields into preservation. Professional organizations or philosophies, like institutions and individuals, must evolve to meet the changing needs of the profession they serve.
Preservation is no exception.
We need to encourage our professional organizations to be flexible and responsive, to ensure their own long term preservation. We are best suited to devise ways for materials to serve the current trend of research needs, while striving to minimize the damage from that service. Now we must start adapting our principles and priorities to support our work toward those goals in today's library environment. Inc. All rights reserved.