title: Early Exit Strategies in Digital Preservation 
creators: Benn Chang Maria Esteva Ashley Adair
abstract: Digital preservation is a continuous activity requiring long-term effort, the lack of which presents risks for data falling behind in maintenance, representation, functionalities, and long-term safeguarding. However, contingencies in a preservation pathway can change quickly. Going to the rescue of data at preservation risk requires potentially costly and time consuming strategies. The ability to respond successfully is enhanced by planning an exit strategy for the data. We present two scenarios enacted in response to the closure of a distributed data preservation initiative and stress the importance of a prior “plan B” to digital preservation plans.