The challenges of digitizing, preserving and providing access to over 1,000 years’ worth of material held by The National Archives (TNA) are considerable. In recent years, TNA has developed a strategy to digitize content quickly though its Licensed Internet Associates program. These commercial partnerships, closely managed by TNA staff, have allowed the institution to digitize millions of pages of material at minimal direct cost. This case study explores the model developed by TNA in light of the opportunities that commercial partnerships can provide for public service organizations. This study also highlights the challenges such a partnership can bring to bear on a number of critical questions, including user needs, balancing mission and the commercial partner’s need to drive revenue, and long-term preservation and access considerations.

 

Sustainability Planning Tool