Don't leave things vague here!
Keep in mind: Distributed storing probably gives a proactive basis for long term
preservation:
see the Stanford LOCKSS philosophy ("Lots Of Copies Keep Stuff Safe!").
(Imagine what could have been saved if the material from the Anna-Amalia Library at Weimar had been digitized and distributed to various places before it burned down!!)
A good model for the DML development is given by the Open Software movement. Let many become involved in a distributed project.
Successful examples are:
All these are worldwide movements with contributers from many sides: Voluntary individuals, societies, companies (commercial and non commercial).