Dear Colleagues,
Thank you for signing the FITS Toolkit Request for Support<https://docs.google.com/document/d/14GI-rPVbG_bN9qpd0xHtaatAb9arL1oRolibR-JqvEU/edit?usp=sharing>, which was submitted to the Open Preservation Foundation in February. The robust outpouring of community support has helped demonstrate the crucial role that FITS plays in the digital preservation ecosystem.
While OPF deliberates on assuming stewardship, we are moving forward with planning a sustainable future for FITS, and we need your help.
We are looking for software developers who can assist with keeping FITS in a safe and functional state to join our community steering committee.
A software developer should have the following skills:
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Java software development proficiency
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Familiarity with Maven builds
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Comfort managing third‑party dependencies
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Familiarity with software testing protocols
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Familiarity with code reviews and continuous integration through Github
We have estimated that the total annual time investment for one software developer should be, at most, 89 hours per year. Additional software developers will reduce this time per person. See the FITS Minimal Sustainability and Support Requirements<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k9stBEX14lqA_aBs7CnImmduE03ta8oEtDmNYT1AF70/edit?tab=t.0> for additional details. Please don't be intimidated by this time estimate - We are not requesting firm hourly commitments at this time. Any help you are able to provide will be welcome & appreciated.
If you are interested in volunteering, please join our next community steering group meeting on June 17th from 3:00 PM - 3:50 PM EST using the following zoom link: https://harvard.zoom.us/j/94093535085?pwd=WYe60Gwnn77L687H49qLAcgv3qDTaU.1
You can review previous meeting agendas at https://github.com/harvard-lts/fits/wiki.
Please feel free to distribute this call widely!
If you have a conflict and are unable to attend, please email me at charlowa_at_ohio.edu, and we will work with the steering committee to schedule an alternate meeting.
Sincerely,
Aurora Charlow, on behalf of the FITS Community Steering Committee
[Ohio University Logo]
Aurora Charlow, she/they
DIGITAL ARCHIVIST
UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
MAHN CENTER FOR ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, PRESERVATION & DIGITAL INITIATIVES
EMAIL
charlowa_at_ohio.edu<mailto:%20charlowa_at_ohio.edu>
PHONE
740.593.0055
Received on Tue Jun 02 2026 - 15:45:03 EDT