„A Patchwork Quilt to a Grand Design” – A Planned Approach to Preservation for Libraries and Archives in the United Kingdom and Ireland

This paper is divided into five sections: 1. an introduction to the National Preservation Office (NPO): 1984 to 1995; 1996 – 1999, when a new funding basis and management structure was put in place 2. set out the NPO’s strategic aim, which is the adoption of a planned approach to preservation by libraries and archives in the UK and Ireland and lay before you the achievements of the Office since 1999 3. bring you up to date on digital preservation in the UK since 1996 4. touch briefly on factors affecting the preservation profession in the UK today, and 5. give some personal thoughts on where preservation management initiatives might advance the profession and where that could take us over the next three years (2002 – 2005).