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Oxford Common File Layout

Oxford Common File Layout (OCFL)
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About

Launched: 2017
Record Updated: Oct 04, 2024
Standard, specification or protocol
This Oxford Common File Layout (OCFL) specification describes an application-independent approach to the storage of digital information in a structured, transparent, and predictable manner. It is designed to promote long-term object management best practices within digital repositories.

Mission

OCFL is designed to promote long-term object management best practices within digital repositories.

Key Achievements

  • 2023-08-01: Began planning for Version 2.0

  • 2022-10-07: Version 1.1 Released

  • 2020-07-07: Version 1.0 Released

Many different institutions and repositories have adopted the OCFL. A list of adopters can be found on the wiki.

Community Engagement

Contribution Guidelines or Fora

Implemented
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Community Statements

User Contribution Pathways

  • Contribute to code
  • Contribute to documentation
  • Contribute to education or training

Policies & Governance

Governance Summary

The OCFL specification is governed by its Editorial Board. The group meets every other week to discuss issues related to the specification and how we can collaborate with the community. We host community meetings to hear about how the community uses the specification; information provided by the community impacts the Editors' decisions about the specification.

There is no formal governance for the community.

Policies

Policy Statements

Board Structure

  • Advisory board or steering committee

Community Governance

  • None

Additional Information

Organizational History

OCFL history

Organizational Structure

Business or Ownership Model

Volunteer community

Current Affiliations

  • While the current editorial board is employed by institutions that themselves are hoping to implement OCFL or have implemented OCFL, the work of the board is currently tied to individuals and their knowledge of certain aspects of digital preservation, storage technologies, specifications, and repositories. These specific skill sets are what have driven the specification - not the institutions that are employing the individual editors.

Funding

Funding Needs

Right now the editorial board is leaning into their institutions' professional development and travel funding to ensure they can meet and focus on doing the work to advance the specification - oftentimes doing this by coordinating meetings around shared conferences. Any funding that would be provided to the community would help to fund the editorial group's travel - either to conferences to promote OCFL or to meetings so improvements can be made to the specification.
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