In information and archival communities, a designated community is an identified group of potential consumers who should be able to understand a particular set of information. These consumers may consist of multiple communities, are designated by the archive, and may change over time.[1]
Organizations determine their designated communities and establish standards and guidelines that create a mutually beneficial relationship. A designated community can be defined by its occupation, status, or geographic location.
The term designated community is closely aligned with the concept of Open Archival Information System (OAIS).[2] Each one gives the other a central purpose. The OAIS is a repository of information specified for its designated community. The designated community is the reason the OAIS maintains the information it collects.
A designated community can change, grow, shrink, or otherwise change over time, depending on the purpose of the information being preserved. Sometimes, a designated community can start as one subset and evolve into a wholly different subset depending on how the information that was originally assigned is being used or misused.
Canada's York University has a specific definition for its digital preservation designated communities. They categorize them as “primary” and “secondary” communities.[3] This demonstrates their prioritization of the intent behind what is digitally preserved. With a primary community made up of the university's faculty, students, staff, and researchers, York University situates that community's digital preservation needs above others.