New White Paper and Case Study Collection: Digital POWRR Peer Assessment Program

[stacey...@gmail.com]

We are pleased to share the newly released white paper and companion case study volume from the Digital POWRR Peer Assessment Program, a multi-year Institute of Museum and Library Services-funded initiative focused on building digital preservation capacity at under-resourced institutions through peer-based training and assessment.

 

White Paper:
Beyond the Checklist: Healing, Connection, and Capacity-Building Through Digital Preservation Peer Assessment
This report offers a detailed look at program design, participant outcomes, and key recommendations for funders, administrators, and future implementers. It also introduces a new assessment framework: Navigating Uncertainty: A Human-Centered Assessment Compass for Digital Preservation Practitioners, which emphasizes emotional resilience, relational dynamics, and the everyday realities that shape digital stewardship work.

 

Case Study Volume:
Digital POWRR Peer Assessment Program Participant Case Studies
This companion volume features 25 case studies written by program participants, reflecting a wide range of institutional contexts, challenges, and digital stewardship journeys. The case studies document how participants applied assessment tools, navigated local constraints, set achievable goals, and began implementing practical digital preservation strategies; offering candid, grounded insights from libraries, archives, museums, and community organizations of all sizes.

 

We hope these openly available resources will be useful to anyone working with digital collections, whether you're focused on preservation, workforce development, or building sustainable practices in cultural heritage settings of all kinds.

 

Please feel free to share widely.

 

Best wishes,

The Digital POWRR Team