University of California Curation Center (UC3) offers systems, services, and training designed to address the challenges of managing, publishing, and preserving research outputs. This mission is vital in an era where scholarly outputs are expanding in volume and complexity, necessitating robust solutions for their preservation and accessibility.
UC3 is a program within the California Digital Library (CDL) at the University of California Office of the President (UCOP). In this context, our strategy involves fostering deep collaboration among the ten UC campuses, CDL and UCOP, and international communities to develop and implement innovative approaches and solutions. Through our broad networks and expertise, UC3 seeks to work in areas and on projects that transcend the capabilities of individual libraries or institutions. Our services, such as Merritt, EZID, and DMP Tool, exemplify UC3’s commitment to addressing community needs at scale. To achieve this scale, UC3 places a strong emphasis on building broad coalitions and community engagement, aiming to raise awareness and understanding of challenges and practices through workshops, symposia, and other outreach activities.
Harnessing the collective energy and innovation of its partners, UC3 provides solutions that are out of the reach of any individual partner. UC3 works through this partnership to
- Provide high quality and cost-effective services and expertise
- Increase awareness and understanding of research data management, persistent identifiers, and digital preservation issues, through communication and outreach
- Support a community of experts, researchers, and stakeholders and provide channels of communication
UC3’s work is grounded in a commitment to collective, community-led infrastructure. We recognize that sustainable solutions for research data cannot be built in isolation, but must be shaped and maintained by broad networks of libraries, universities, professional associations, and infrastructure providers. Through open governance, shared stewardship, and active participation in international initiatives, UC3 helps design systems that reduce duplication, increase interoperability, and ensure equitable access. This community-centered approach not only strengthens the durability and trustworthiness of the infrastructure we support, but also advances the larger vision of an open, connected, and sustainable scholarly ecosystem.
Ultimately, UC3’s strategic vision is rooted in the vision of CDL to empower the University of California community with the knowledge and tools necessary to ensure the sustainability and usability of digital information, thereby supporting the broader goals of open scholarship and academic excellence within the University of California and beyond.
Meet the UC3 team, explore our publications, and view our timeline of key milestones to see how our work has evolved and continues to advance research data management, digital preservation, and open scholarship.