Membership Benefits
We work for you
By joining the OPF, you have the opportunity to have your say on what we do and how we can support your digital preservation priorities.
An invitation to our Annual General Meeting
All members are invited to attend our Annual General Meeting (AGM) to evaluate our work from the past year, connect with other members, and influence our activities for the year ahead. As a member, the AGM is a valuable occasion to offer your feedback and vote in elections for the board, which provides strategic leadership for the Foundation.
Be elected to the board of directors
This is your chance to make a positive difference whilst developing new skills. Our board represents the Foundation’s membership and plays a vital role in making strategic decisions and monitoring ongoing activities.
An invitation to our bi-annual OPF Advisory Group
The OPF Advisory Group is a new member-only forum to update you on our work and give you a greater say on the development of our tools, special interest groups, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
| Benefit | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Technical Contributor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participate in our AGM and annual workshop | 5 places | 2 places | 1 place | 1 place |
| Vote at our AGM | 5 votes | 2 votes | 1 vote | |
| Eligible to be appointed to the board of directors | Priority | As available |
Access practical guidance and support
Whether you are an experienced user, software vendor, or working with digital preservation environments and systems for the first time, we are here to help.
Tech Clinic
As one of the only organisations of our kind with dedicated technical staff and in-house resources, our monthly tech clinic provides members with personalised, practical support. We offer help using OPF products, implementing new systems, and understanding open source requirements and best practice.
Use of OPF tool web demonstrators
Try out OPF products online, without the need to download and install the software.
Help to adopt our open source tools
We help our vendor members with integrating OPF products into their solutions, which are used by their clients, our members, and the wider digital preservation community.
Any issues raised by members are our priority. We can also offer support interpreting the results from our products.
Online or face-to-face consultation
In addition to our technical expertise, the OPF team offers extensive experience in project management, event planning, marketing and social media. Gold members are eligible to claim up to one day per month of consultancy.
Board Buddy
Each of our member organisations are assigned a ‘Board Buddy’, to facilitate closer ties and dialogue between our Board and our members. This is a way for you to voice your opinions and suggestions, whilst also helping to strengthen the relationships between us, the Board and yourselves.
Commission workshops and training
Whether you want one of our existing courses to be delivered in your institution, to design a bespoke course for your staff, or wish to commission a new educational resource based on our open source tools, we will work with you to ensure that your needs are met.
| Benefit | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Technical contributor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book a place at OPF Tech Clinics | Priority | As available | ||
| Access to our web demonstrators | ||||
| Member bug fixes and feature requests | Priority | |||
| One-to-one consultation with OPF staff | One day per month | |||
| Commission workshops and training |
Building communities for sustainability
The OPF was founded to sustain the results of Planets, an EU-funded project. Today, our mission builds upon the principles of collaboration and sustainability. Our community begins with OPF members and expands to involve people around the world.
Be at the forefront of digital preservation
OPF participates in a select number of funded projects and initiatives that align with our strategic goals and that reflect the needs of our members. Members are invited to consult on progress throughout the lifetime of a project. We are also happy to facilitate collaborative initiatives among our members.
Together, our members have a united and respected voice
We believe that organisations across the globe can benefit from working collaboratively to develop shared standards and solutions. Our membership comprises institutions from around the world, charting the course for the advancement of digital preservation.
| Benefit | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Technical contributor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priority consultation and steering opportunities for funded projects | As available | By invitation | ||
| Receive consultation and feedback opportunities for funded projects | ||||
| Eligible for support in collaborative initiatives | As available | By invitation | ||
| Access to influential project networks | Priority |
Work and learn collaboratively
Knowledge sharing is an essential part of digital preservation, and we facilitate a range of services and activities which enable the dissemination of ideas, insights and best practice throughout the community.
Webinars
Our popular webinar series features expert speakers and draws participants from around the world and we encourage all of our members to present their work as part of the series.
Workshops and training
Our workshops run throughout the year and provide practical training on our open source products.
Member groups
We run a number of interest groups which meet regularly to discuss specific preservation challenges, whilst our working groups bring members together to undertake specialised projects.
Priority registration
Members receive priority booking for all of our events, including webinars, workshops and training.
Resources
We maintain a collection of valuable resources, including our webinar archive, slides from workshops and conference presentations, and data from our surveys. As an OPF member, you benefit from exclusive and unlimited access to this material, aiding knowledge-sharing within your institution.
| Benefit | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Technical contributor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priority registration for our workshops and training | ||||
| Free places at our workshops and training | 5 places | 2 places | 1 place | 10% discount |
| Priority registration for OPF webinars | ||||
| Access to the OPF webinar archive | ||||
| Participate in OPF virtual panels | ||||
| Participate in OPF interest and working groups | ||||
| Access to members-only resources |
Get connected
We provide a space where you can learn from the experiences of others, exchange knowledge and best practices, and discover new partners for collaboration. By making members our key focus, we offer many opportunities to learn, debate and connect with like-minded professionals. Engagement occurs at every level, from simply being part of our members mailing list, joining one of our working groups or participating at board level.
Bridging the gap between technical providers and users
Our members include many national libraries and archives, leading university libraries, as well as commercial organisations offering digital preservation solutions. OPF can facilitate conversations and requirements sharing between technical providers and users.
Publicity and promotion
We are committed to showcasing the work of our members. When you join us, you can also advertise relevant jobs and events on our website and communications channels. Our vendor members enjoy opportunities to demonstrate what they do and connect with prospective users in initiatives such as our ‘spotlight on suppliers’ webinar series.
| Benefit | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Technical contributor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited access the members-only mailing list | ||||
| Display your logo on the OPF website with a link to your website | ||||
| Use the OPF logo on your website | ||||
| Share your news and advertise job vacancies on our website, members-only communications channels and social media. |