JISC Services Case Study - Digital Curation Centre (DCC)
Scientists, researchers and scholars across the UK generate increasingly vast amounts of digital data, with further investment in digitisation and purchase of digital content and information. The scientific record and the documentary heritage created in digital form are at risk from technology obsolescence, from the fragility of digital media, and from lack of the basics of good practice, such as adequate documentation for the data.
Archiving for the future
Digital Curation is the active management of data throughout the information lifecycle The Digital Curation Centre (DCC) aims to promote and disseminate good practice in managing and preserving research data in digital format. Universities and FE colleges face the challenge of managing access to the huge amounts of digital data generated by researchers, scientists, policy makers and others. As well as purchasing or subscribing to new digital content and information, they are also digitising existing reference materials held in other formats. DCC supports further and higher Education institutions in the UK to develop strategies and procedures for managing and preserving digital data and ensuring their accessibility for staff and students - as well as their continuing long term use. 
DCC describes digital curation as ‘maintaining and adding value to a trusted body of digital information for current and future use; it encompasses the active management of data throughout the information lifecycle’. (DCC Charter and Statement of Principles)
Impact on learning providers
FE college libraries and learning resource centres are increasingly exploring how to set up and manage data centres and digital repositories as part of their data management plan. DCC has developed useful tools to support colleges and others such as a Data Audit Framework and a Curation Lifecycle Model.
Key messages
Other services for colleges and universities provided by DCC include:
- An online Resource Centre with briefing papers and case studies
- Background papers such as Standards Watch, Technology Watch and Legal Watch
- Summaries of research and development activities
- An associates network and an active online DCC forum
- A dedicated Helpdesk enabling contact with expert DCC advisors online or by phone
Further information
Digital Curation Centre (DCC)