> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://civic-switchboard.gitbook.io/guide/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://civic-switchboard.gitbook.io/guide/library-roles/archiving-civic-data.md).

# Archiving civic data

**What's the need?**

* Open data publishers, whether individual organizations or aggregators, are often not built with long-term stewardship in mind. Specifically, they may not account for dataset versioning, digital preservation workflows and metadata, or a long-term commitment to data availability

**Why the library?**  

* Libraries have experience in preserving resources for future use, particularly items created by governments or other public entities. 

**What you can do:**

* Archive and preserve civic data in a library-managed repository or in partnership with an external repository.

**Inspiration:**

* United States: [Data Refuge](https://www.datarefuge.org/) 
* United States: [End of Term Presidential Harvest](<https://digital2.library.unt.edu/nomination/eth2016/about/ >)&#x20;

**Resources you can use:**

* Temple University Libraries. “[Future Proofing Civic Data: Exploring the Challenges of Preserving Open Civic Data for the Long Term](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vymMtPf0PP17qehPeKXSCu-37mJOlvnEf9IKypXWWRA/edit#heading=h.a45xpvi99a5p)”&#x20;