Back in 2019 the DPC released a new maturity model for digital preservation as part of a project we were working on with the UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. We called it our Rapid Assessment Model (DPC RAM) and we have been really pleased to see how widely used it has been across the digital preservation community. We reviewed RAM in 2021 and moved it to version 2 (read about what changed in RAM version 2 here). After another few years we think it is due for revision again.
We always knew RAM would need to change as good practice evolves over time. We want to make sure DPC RAM continues to reflect recognised community good practice and for that reason we have always welcomed feedback. RAM has always had continuous improvement at its core, and we want to ensure we embrace that goal in the management and evolvution of RAM too. We have a feedback form on our RAM web pages and also encourage feedback whenever we go out and talk to anyone about RAM. We have been gathering feedback (along with some of our own thoughts about what might need to change) over the last three years and already have a modest list of things we want to review. These range from minor tweaks to make the wording clearer or more concise to the inclusion of new examples that reflect emerging good practice….but perhaps there is more?
We plan to start our revision of DPC RAM in January 2024 ready for release in March and would like to give you one last chance to tell us what should change. All parts of DPC RAM are in scope - both the model itself and related resources - the spreadsheet template, the information on our RAM web pages (including our Level up with RAM resource) and related training materials such as the introductory video. If you use DPC RAM and have thoughts and ideas on how to improve it we would love to hear from you.
DPC RAM has always been a community effort. Originally supported by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and based on an existing model by Adrian Brown of the UK Parliamentary Archives it was developed with feedback from the DPC community. As in the previous revision, proposed changes will be shared with the DPC’s Good Practice sub-committee and other experts and community representatives where appropriate. We don’t take the revision of RAM lightly and with your feedback and the guidance of the community, we will have the best chance of getting it right.
We are gathering feedback to inform our revision of RAM until 2nd January 2024 - do email me with your thoughts or use our online feedback form to tell us what you think.