Initiatives in the field of long-term digital preservation and the need for a continued research effort

This paper gives an overview of some of the many projects and initiatives i n the field of long-term digital preservation. It is not intended to provid e an exhaustive list of current activities but to show the different levels at which work is taking place, the variety of players and to underline the areas in which continued research is needed. It calls for the inclusion of more partners from the publishing and ICT sectors. It points out the diffi culties involved in monitoring and following the large number of activities in the field and proposes that the PADI subject gateway could be used as t he basis for a central list of initiatives and projects since it is already one of the most up-to-date and complete sites on the subject. Finally, it presents the CDNL Committee on Digital Preservation whose goals include rai sing awareness of the problem and urging UNESCO member states to make money available for the preservation of the digital heritage.