[Asis-l] File Formats for Preservation: ERPANET Training Seminar, Vienna, 10-11 May 2004

[Dutch.editor at erpanet.org]

ERPANET is pleased to announce its training seminar on 'File Formats for Preservation'.

It will be held on 10-11 May 2004 at the Austrian National Library (Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, ÖNB). Registration is now open at www.erpanet.org.

__Co-Sponsors
Austrian National Library (Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, ÖNB)
Digital Curation Centre (UK)

__Focus
File formats are a crucial layer, indeed a hinge between the bits in storage and their meaningful interpretation. The proper access to and display of content depends entirely on the ability to decipher the respective bitstream, and consequently on precise knowledge about how the information contained within is represented. Thus file formats are one of the core issues of any digital preservation approach, and file format obsolescence is a major challenge for anybody wanting to preserve digital files.
The ERPANET Seminar aims at giving an overview on these issues and at offering guidance based on practical experience. Requirements and best practices for archival file formats will be discussed, and issues such as file format registries and format validation will be treated.

__Who will benefit from attending?
This training seminar is aimed at all people who are dealing with file format issues. These include practitioners in digital preservation from all kind of organisations and institutions, decision-makers and other people involved in choosing preservation file formats, and preservationists who are facing file format challenges and are looking for first-hand information and experience. In particular, people who want to exchange their experience with colleagues from all over Europe and beyond should consider attending. 

We expect attendants to have basic familiarity with digital preservation and file format issues. Please see the bibliography on the seminar webpage at www.erpanet.org for some introductory reading.

__Programme outline
Monday 10 May:
Opening (8.30 a.m.)
General introduction
The role of file formats within the OAIS reference model
Requirements for archival file formats
File format registries
The ingestion process: format detection and format validation
Tuesday 11 May:
Best practices for archival formats: main characteristics of available formats, practical experience in file format migration, maintenance and use. 
- Text formats
- Image formats
- Audiovisual formats
Closing (4 p.m.)

Both breakout groups and plenary sessions will provide ample occasion for questions and discussion. ERPANET is also aiming at providing further networking opportunities during lunch break and evening dinner. (Both lunches and a seminar dinner are included in the seminar fee.) 

__Venue
The seminar will be held in the Augustinertrakt (Augustine Wing) of the Austrian National Library. More information about the ÖNB is available from their website at http://www.onb.ac.at/index_eng.htm. ERPANET is very grateful to the Austrian National Library for providing the venue for this training event.

During the seminar, participants will have the opportunity to take part in a guided tour of the ÖNB’s splendid Hall of State.

__Further information
The central information source is the seminar homepage at www.erpanet.org. A briefing paper and extensive travel and accommodation information are available from there, and a reading list will be posted soon. After the event, the abstracts, papers, pictures, and the seminar report will be accessible as well.

__Important travel information
The Austrian National Library has made arrangements with a number of hotels and thus ERPANET can offer you special seminar rates, valid for bookings until April 10. Please refer to the travel and accommodation information sheet on the ERPANET website for the booking code and further information.
At any rate, since hotels in Vienna are usually overbooked in May we strongly recommend you to book your hotel as early as possible.

__To register
The registration fee is 100 Euro. This comprises lunch at both seminar days, as well as the seminar dinner on Monday evening. Refreshments will be offered by the Austrian National Library.

Please register online at www.erpanet.org.
For additional information, please contact swiss.editor at erpanet.org.