Beginning in 1990, the Department pf Preservation and Conservation within Cornell University Library (CUL) conducted pioneering research into the use of digital imaging to retrospectively convert library and archival material. Through a series of projects, it investigated image quality requirements and developed an approach, called digital benchmarking, as a digital imaging management tool. The focus of research was extended in 1996 to include the preservation of digital materials. Through workshops, publications, and consultancies, the unit also served an educational role.

The Digital Imaging and Preservation Research unit was renamed the Digital Imaging and Preservation Policy Research (DIPPR) in August 2001 to reflect a heavier emphasis on digital preservation and on mainstreaming the results of the team's ongoing research projects into CUL's operations.

DIPPR was disbanded in June 2002. The core functions of DIPPR were transferred the new Research Department [link to Web site] that was established in July within Instruction, Research, and Information Services (IRIS), a division of Cornell University Library that was created in January 2002. DIPPR reported to Anne R. Kenney, Assistant University Librarian for IRIS, who founded DIPPR and its predecessors, and directed the program until IRIS was established.

Awards

Waldo Giffor Leland Award for writing of superior excellence and usefulness in the field of archival history, theory, or practice was presented to Anne R. Kenney and Oya Y. Rieger for Moving Theory into Practice: Digital Imaging for Libraries and Archives.

Award 2001
The Digital Imaging and Preservation Research Unit of the Department of Preservation and Conservation has won the LITA/Library Hi Tech Award for Outstanding Communication for Continuing Education in Library and Information Technology for its "outstanding contributions in research, continuing education and information sharing to increase the ability of libraries to preserve information for future generations."

Preservation Publication Award 1996
The Preservation Publication Award for writing of superior excellence and usefulness, which advances the theory or practice of preservation in archival institutions was presented by the Society of American Archivists to Anne R. Kenney and to Stephen Chapman for Tutorial: Digital Resolution Requirements for Replacing Text-Based Material: Methods for Benchmarking Image Quality.

Waldo Gifford Leland Prize 1997
The Waldo Gifford Leland Prize for writing of superior excellence and usefulness in the field of archival history, theory, or practice was presented by the Society of American Archivists to Anne Kenney and Stephen Chapman for Digital Imaging for Libraries and Archives.