Common Depository System
The Common Depository System (CDS) provides a focal point for digital preservation
initiatives at Cornell University Library (CUL) . Planning the CDS was the
focus of one of nine CUL priorities in 2005, to address an objective of
the CUL Goals and Priorities. The design work will continue in 2006
with a focus on the digital content in Arxiv.org and Project Euclid. The
project website contains current documentation for CDS [include a link in
this sentence to the commondepository website].
The CDS initiative began in March 2001 with an IMLS grant entitled: Preserving
Cornell's Digital Image Collections: Implementing an Archival Strategy. The final
report and other documents from the project are available on the project website. The
initial, to develop a central depository for digital images, has evolved into
the development of a common depository system to address the preservation requirements
of CUL's digital content in all formats. The name change reflects the need to
establish a set of common preservation principles, policies, and practices for
digital collections in an increasingly distributed environment. Each digital
archive instance for which Cornell University Library accepts long-term responsibility
will conform to CDS principles and requirements. There are several documents that
have been produced about the CDS project.
CDS is a joint initiative between two divisions within Cornell University Library:
Instruction, Research, and Information Services (IRIS) and Digital Library and
Information Technologies (D-LIT). The Digital Preservation Officer is coordinating
the development of the policy framework, contributing the organizational perspective
to the CDS design, and monitoring the preservation requirements for the CDS.
D-LIT is responsible for defining the functional requirements for the CDS, coordinating
the technical design, providing the programming support, and will be responsible
for the day-to-day operation of the CDS.