Define Education Needs
Through summer and fall of 2010 DPOE conducted a Training Needs Assessment Survey. The survey was distributed through a variety of channels, including posts on professional and academic e-mail listservs. E-mail invitations were sent to archivists, librarians, information officers, corporate executives, and similar professionals. The survey announcement was posted on professional blogs and announced on Twitter, Facebook, and digitalpreservation.gov. Cards announcing the survey were distributed to attendees of the American Library Association 2010 Annual Conference. The survey received a total of 868 responses.
An Executive Summary (PDF), cross-tabulated questions (PDF), and survey questions with answers recorded by percentage (PDF) are available for download. The most important result of the survey was the realization that there were very few professional development opportunities in digital preservation. Survey respondents identified a need for practical hands-on information and training to conduct and manage digital preservation.
The Training Needs Assessment Survey directly informed the design of the DPOE program pyramid. The pyramid displays target audiences that are necessary to engage for the establishment of successful digital preservation programs throughout the nation.
| Audience | Outreach Methods | Educational Approaches |
| Executive Administrators CEOs CIOs Governance bodies Funders |
Webinars Corporate briefings Media |
Provide information on trends in industry, the U.S., and worldwide, using tools such as webinars, corporate briefings, and media, to inform an organization-wide strategy/commitment in digital preservation. |
| Managerial Program managers Project managers Line managers |
Professional reading—e.g., journals, listservs Conferences—e.g., presentations, booths, Panels Social media Traditional media |
Provide a variety of educational options (e.g., half-day, daylong, onsite, Web-based) on setting up and running a successful digital preservation program. |
| Practical Practitioners Hands-on staff Support staff |
Workshops Online tutorials Booklets and other publications Social media Traditional media |
Provide a variety of instructional options (e.g., half-day, daylong, onsite, Web-based) on demonstrations of methods and workflows in digital preservation. |
