University of Michigan

The University of Michigan School of Information will implement a three-year Early Career Development research project. Dr. Rebecca D. Frank will examine how stakeholders in the CoreTrustSeal (CTS) digital repository certification process understand and construct the concept of risk. The study investigates how participants' understanding of risk influences preservation actions and their perception of certification value. Research activities include semi-structured interviews with CTS stakeholders, comparative case studies of two certified repositories, and an evaluation of the CTS system using Becker's Assessment Framework. Expected deliverables include scholarly publications, guidelines for under-resourced institutions seeking certification, and educational modules for LIS students and practitioners. The project will benefit stakeholders in the CTS system, digital preservation practitioners more broadly, smaller institutions seeking certification, and LIS students, while contributing to the theoretical foundation of repository certification and risk assessment in digital preservation.