Dear Friends,
By now I hope you are aware of the exciting news that DuraSpace and LYRASIS intend to merge their two non-profit organizations.The boards of each organization have unanimously affirmed their interest in pursuing a merger. The Jan. 25, 2019 press release is here. A FAQ with more detailed information can be found here.
As we look forward to progress and new initiatives across our community in the new year I want to take this opportunity to brief members on what I see as key DuraSpace strategic priorities for 2019.
Leaders from across the ecosystem of open source software projects that support the preservation and access of digital collections came together in December at the University of Michigan at the first meeting of Open Community Infrastructure to discuss bringing more coherence to separate communities and projects in order to address a variety of redundancies and inefficiencies. The following institutions were represented: University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Northwestern University, Indiana University, University of Colorado, North Carolina State University, Penn State University, Ohio State University, New York University, Stanford University, Columbia University, University of Iowa, Emory University, University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University, and Princeton University. The group looked carefully at the feasibility of a coherence model for a focused set of open source software projects that we collectively use for digital preservation and access, and to consider what it might take to move the ideal of coherence and interdependence into action. There will be a report issued on the proceedings in February.
In light of our community's recognition of the need for organizational coherence DuraSpace is planning for:
personally explain to you, our valued DuraSpace members, some of the reasons why we are seeking to amplify our efforts and impact by merging with LYRASIS.
Our efforts have always been aimed at amplifying our collective voicse to a larger member base around the world. The combined strength of our two organizations will multiply our ability to serve our growing community. Perhaps Tyler Walters, Dean, University Libraries, and Professor, Virginia Tech, and President, DuraSpace Board of Directors, says it best, “We are excited by the possibilities inherent in becoming one organization. There is great potential for open technology projects and their invested research institutions to experience more value creation, lower costs of doing business, and an invigorated environment to lead and innovate through this merged organization.”
The combined organization will have the ability to fulfill many long term needs expressed by our members:
- Increased access to staff and investment dollars to
- how to amplify our voice to a larger member base around the world in 2019;
- providing access to staff and investment dollars that will accelerate our work and build our momentum;
- improving improved member benefits to members that will strengthen our products and services;
- increased opportunities for product integration that will bolster our OSS products as viable end-to-end solutions and alternatives to proprietary products;
- providing more flexible Flexible support to OSS/community-supported projects/programs based on need and revenue
I am in ongoing discussions with stakeholders regarding merger details, implications, the timeline for public communications, and opportunities for follow up. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss. Thank you for your continued support of our work on these this and other initiatives aimed at providing enduring access to the world’s digital heritage.
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Executive Director
A Members-Only Hot Topics Webinar Summit
Our annual Member Summit will be held on April 10, 2019 in St. Louis after the CNI Spring Member Meeting. Please join us at a reception on April 9 . Add info from Pascal about synchronus Germany event (Carol). Add Add registration info (Kristi).
Where We'll Be (please update with upcoming engagements through March)April)
LDCX Fedora Workshop, Palo Alto, CA, March?
DC Area Fedora User Group meeting, Washington, DC, March ?
VIVO Camp,
DuraSpace Summit at CNI, St. Louis, MO, April 10
DSpace Anwendertreffen, Bamberg, Germany, April 11-12