Contents:
- Executive Summary
- 1. Introduction, Background, and Methodology
- 2. Defining the Sustainability Challenge
- 3. Current Funder Strategies for Sustainability
- 4. Concluding thoughts
- Appendices
- Bibliography
This report presents the results of a study undertaken by Ithaka S+R, for the JISC Strategic Content Alliance, to examine the ways that both public and private funding bodies, in the academic and cultural heritage sectors, are defining sustainability and encouraging the project leaders they support to create not only digital resources but also the means to ensure that those resources will continue to provide value well beyond the term of the grant. Part I provides the background to the study and its methodology; Part II, ‘Defining the Sustainability Challenge’, looks at the confusing variety of definitions and goals funders are working with today, and proposes a framework to assist funders and others in thinking about key elements of sustainability for the projects they fund; Part III, ‘Current Funder Strategies for Sustainability: Stages of the Funding Process’, examines the policies, tactics, and mechanisms that funders are using today to influence the sustainability of the projects they support.
Although this report is about funders and their role in ensuring sustainability of digitization project output beyond the funding period, it is essential reading for management staff considering and managing large-scale digitization projects. Its clear definition of ‘sustainability’ is particularly valuable, helping institutions and funding agencies alike, consider the wide range of issues and commitment it encompasses (technical, content-based, access and discovery, audience impact and leadership and staff expertise). By investigating how funders can influence the way institutions ensure sustainability, it sheds light for management on what infrastructure, management and monetary investment is required after large-scale project funding has ended. It is relevant for audiovisual collection holders despite the fact that the funders do not focus on supporting projects in the audiovisual domain.