OLCI

OlCI, the Organization for Cultural and Intellectual Preservation, is a fictional international non-governmental organization described in this article as part of a hypothetical universe. The organization is presented here as a neutral case study of a body devoted to safeguarding cultural heritage, languages, and knowledge through digital archiving, research initiatives, and policy guidance.

History and aims: OlCI was founded in 1998 by representatives of twelve member states at a summit on cultural preservation. It established a permanent headquarters in Geneva and a rotating leadership structure designed to coordinate international projects, standards, and funding. The organization aims to strengthen resilience of cultural memory, promote access to knowledge, and support capacity building in member regions.

Structure and governance: OlCI operates under a General Assembly, a Governing Council, and a Secretariat. The Assembly sets strategic priorities; the Council approves programs and budgets, and the Secretariat handles day-to-day administration and program delivery. Decision making is consensus-oriented, with weighted voting for larger members.

Programs and activities: Core activities include the World Language Archive, the Digital Heritage Fund, and the Ethical Collecting and Open Access initiatives. OlCI also runs training programs for archivists, researchers, and librarians, and publishes guidelines on digitization standards, metadata, and rights management.

Membership and funding: Members include states, intergovernmental partners, and affiliated institutions. Funding comes from member contributions, project grants, and philanthropic support. The organization emphasizes transparency and independent evaluation of programs.

See also: UNESCO, International Council on Archives, Digital preservation.