Excellence Awards

The annual NDSA Innovation Awards were established in 2012 to recognize and encourage exemplary achievement in the field of digital preservation stewardship. Seeking to highlight and commend all forms of creative and meaningful contributions in the field of digital preservation, the awards were renamed the Excellence Awards in 2021 and nominations expanded to individuals, educators, future stewards, organizations, projects, and sustainability activities categories.

In 2021, a cooperative agreement was reached with the Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) allowing the awards programs for both groups to be presented on an interleaved biennial basis. The NDSA Excellence Awards are presented in the odd-numbered years, while the DPC Digital Preservation Awards are presented in the even-numbered years.

About the Excellence Awards

As a diverse international membership organization with a shared commitment to digital preservation, the NDSA understands the importance of innovation and risk-taking in developing and supporting a broad range of successful digital preservation activities. Acknowledging that excellent digital stewardship can take many forms, eligibility for these awards has been left purposely broad. Anyone, any institution, or any project acting in the context of the above categories can be nominated for an award. Nominees do not have to be or be affiliated with NDSA members or member institutions, but must evidence significant engagement with the theory and practice of long-term digital preservation stewardship at a level of national or international importance. Nominators similarly do not need to be affiliated with NDSA member institutions. Self-nomination is accepted and encouraged, as are submissions reflecting the needs and accomplishments of historically marginalized and underrepresented communities.

More information on award categories and previous awardees can be found below.

  • Individuals: Recognizing those individuals making a significant contribution to the digital preservation community through advances in theory or practice.
  • Educators: Recognizing academics, trainers, and curricular endeavors promoting effective and inventive approaches to digital preservation education through academic programs, partnerships, professional development opportunities, and curriculum development
  • Future Stewards: Recognizing students and early-career professionals making an impact on advancing knowledge and practice of digital preservation stewardship.
  • Organizations: Recognizing those organizations providing significant support, guidance, advocacy, or leadership for the digital preservation community.
  • Projects: Recognizing those activities whose goals or outcomes make a significant contribution to strategic or conceptual understanding necessary for successful digital preservation stewardship.
  • Sustainability Activities: Recognizing those activities whose goals or outcomes make a significant contribution to operational trustworthiness, monitoring, maintenance, or intervention necessary for sustainable digital preservation stewardship.

2024 Group Activities

As an even-number year, the DPC will be awarding the Digital Preservation Awards. The Excellence Awards will be presented again in 2025. During 2024, the Excellence Awards committee will be sharing more infomration about the award categories to help you prepare for the 2025 award nominations. Stay tuned for informational blog posts and/or videos.

Working Group Members

  • Kari May, co-chair (University of Pittsburgh)
  • Matt McEniry, co-chair (Texas Tech University)
  • Julie Allen (Open Preservation Foundation)
  • Chris Banuelos (Rice University)
  • Sarah Middleton (Digital Preservation Coalition Representative)
  • Dorothea Salo (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
  • Jessica Venlet (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Libraries)

Past Award Recipients