I am an archivist by training and currently manage the Paradigm project (http://www.paradigm.ac.uk) of Oxford University Library Services and the John Rylands University Library of Manchester. The purpose of the project is to investigate ways in which archivists can preserve the digital papers that form a growing part of today's historical record. Paradigm is using exemplar collections deposited by contemporary politicians to learn about the issues surrounding the preservation of personal digital materials, but institutions such as Oxford and Manchester are also interested in the long-term preservation of the digital materials created by writers and scientists, etc.

Paradigm is exploring a number of areas relevant to this work; one of these is the long-term viability of file formats. It is the interests of archivists, and other who care about our documentary heritage, to advocate open, well-documented standards.