Beyond the Checklist: Healing, Connection, and Capacity-Building Through Digital Preservation Peer Assessment: A white paper prepared for the Institute of Museum and Library Services for the Digital POWRR Peer Assessment Program

Abstract

This white paper documents the development, implementation, and outcomes of the Digital POWRR Peer Assessment Program (2021–2025), a cohort-based professional development initiative focused on building digital preservation capacity at under-resourced cultural heritage organizations. Funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the program combined self-assessment tools, peer mentorship, and community-informed learning to support 36 participants across two phases. The report highlights key design elements—including emotional safety, reflective goal-setting, and peer validation—and introduces Navigating Uncertainty: A Human-Centered Assessment Compass for Digital Preservation Practitioners, a new evaluative framework shaped by participant experiences. Drawing on participant feedback, mentor insights, and external evaluation, the paper offers recommendations for funders, administrators, and future implementers seeking to cultivate inclusive, emotionally sustainable models of digital stewardship. A companion volume of participant-authored case studies illustrates how digital preservation goals were translated into institutional action across a wide range of contexts.