The Preservation of Electronic Government Information (PEGI) Project, a grant-based endeavor spearheaded by the University of North Texas in partnership with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of Missouri, Stanford University, Arizona State University, Yale University and the Center for Research Libraries, has concluded the first phase of its work to gather thoughts and concerns about the long-term survival of born-digital government information. The PEGI Project’s events attracted researchers, scholars, librarians, archivists, government agency representatives, journalists, teachers, government transparency advocates, leaders of not-for-profit organizations and others who shared valuable experiences and insight.
The PEGI team was gratified to discuss issues with groups already engaged in born-digital preservation projects of varying scope and size. Alongside leaders and advocates for these efforts, anyone who joined the PEGI Project conversation has become part of a new and growing informal network of people who share this common concern.
The PEGI Project team took what it learned from hundreds of conversations to prepare for a deeper exploration at its culminating event: a National Forum on Preserving Electronic Government Information, held December 9-10, 2018 in Washington, DC. Representing the public, academic, government and not-for-profit sectors, participants were asked to formulate ideas for a “shared agenda” approach for ongoing cross-stakeholder collaboration. The forum was designed to strengthen relationships between government information creators, librarians and archivists, information technologists and users of government information.
The PEGI Project team has released detailed observations in its final report to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in fulfillment of grant #LG-88-17-0129-17. Toward a Shared Agenda: Report on PEGI Project Activities for 2017-2019 is now available online.
The PEGI Project conducted its work with generous financial support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and additional support from CNI: Coalition for Networked Information, the Educopia Institute, the Center for Research Libraries, and PEGI Project participating institutions including the University of North Texas, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of Missouri, Stanford University, Arizona State University and Yale University.