The NSF has set up a blue ribbon panel, with support from Mellon, to explore the economic sustainability of digital preservation activity. I am pleased to report that my colleague Brian Lavoie - who has a background in economics as well as an important record of work in digital preservation - is a co-chair of the panel.

Dr. Berman and Dr. Lavoie will convene an international group of prominent leaders to develop actionable recommendations on economic sustainability of digital information for the science and engineering, cultural heritage, public and private sectors. The Task Force is expected to meet over the next two years and gather testimony from a broad set of thought leaders in preparation for the Task Force's Final Report. [Task force on economic sustainability of digital data-Lavoie [OCLC]]