LTDP-TF Recommendations & Assertions

The EOSC Association's Long Term Data Preservation Task Force (LTDP-TF)[1], which functions under the Advisory Group (AG) Technical challenges EOSC[2] has previously shared an overview document[3] for public feedback. A paper on the frame of reference used to guide the task force approach was presented[4] at the PV2023 conference.

This paper updates the initial assertions and recommendations of the task force based on feedback received during the consultation process with the wider community. The decision was taken to minimise prose and maximise the presentation of brief assertions and recommendations. Numerous scoping assertions are included because the work of the task force revealed varying interpretations of key research infrastructure concepts, including preservation. 

This paper informs the final report from this iteration of the LTDP-TF. These assertions and recommendations remain valid for future reference by a range of actors. 

While the task force notes the importance of agreeing on standards and developing metrics and tests for assessment, it is important to recognise that repositories and digital objects are in the relatively early stages of a journey towards trustworthiness and FAIRness. Successes should be acknowledged and credited but less mature repositories and digital objects must be invested in for improvement. The Task Force has worked to provide targeted guidance through The Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda and its Multi-Annual Roadmap  that have already resulted in funding calls that will invest in preservation. However, the journey towards agreed community criteria and broad adoption must be seen as a marathon and not a sprint. 

This report represents a consultation to collect feedback on the recommendations made, on the LTDP TF_Recommendations Consultation [5]. This report on assertions and recommendations reflects their long period of public consultation and feedback, related to: Repositories and the Digital Object Lifecycle, Curation & Preservation Levels, FAIR + Time, Preservation Systems, Actions & Outcomes, Trustworthy Digital Repositories (TDR) and other Data and Metadata Services, Standards, Assessment, Certification & Alignment, Outcomes, Judgement and Gatekeeping, Retention, Appraisal & Re-Appraisal, Transparency of Services, Artefacts and Levels of Care for Objects, Generic versus Domain, Discipline and Object Type Specific Issues, Roles and Responsibilities, Finance & Funders, and Network of TDRs.

[1] https://www.eosc.eu/advisory-groups/long-term-data-preservation 

[2] https://eosc.eu/eosc-task-forces 

[3] EOSC Preservation: Overview Discussion Paper https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7516259 

[4] Preservation in the context of EOSC. Sustainable repositories curating digital objects from a long term FAIR enabling perspective. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10020725

[5] Recommendations Consultation. EOSC-A Long Term Data Preservation Task Force. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10014698