Back to basics. Supporting digital humanities and community collaboration using the core strength of the academic library
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/DLP-03-2018-0009 |
| Pages | 188-199 |
| Date | 13 August 2018 |
| Published date | 13 August 2018 |
| Author | Shannon Lucky,Craig Harkema |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology,Records management & preservation,Information repositories |
Back to basics
Supporting digital humanities and community
collaboration using the core strength of
the academic library
Shannon Lucky and Craig Harkema
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
Abstract
Purpose –To describe how academic librariescan support digital humanities (DH) research by leveraging
established library values and strengths to provide support for preservation and access and physical and
digital spacesfor researchers and communities, specifically focusedon culturalheritage collections.
Design/methodology/approach –The experiences of the authors in collaborating with DH scholars
and community organizationsis discussed with references to theliterature. The paper suggests how research
libraries can use existing expertiseand infrastructure to support the development of digital cultural heritage
collectionsand DH research.
Findings –Developing working collaborations with DH researchers and community organizations is a
productive way to engage in impactful cultural heritage digital projects. It can aid resource allocation
decisions to supportactive research, strategic goals, communityneeds and the development and preservation
of unique, locallyrelevant collections. Libraries do not need to radicallytransform themselves to do this work,
they have establishedstrengths that can be effective in meetingthe challenges of DH research.
Practical implications –Academic librariesshould strategically direct the work they already excel at to
support DH research and work with scholars and communities to build collections and infrastructure to
supportthese initiatives.
Originality/value –The paper recommends practical approaches, supported by literature and local
examples,that could be taken when building DH and community-engaged cultural heritage projects.
Keywords Collaboration, Community, Academic libraries, Cultural heritage, Digital humanities,
Digitization
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Increasingly, research libraries are expected to be a support centre for digital scholarship,
and this expectationis often accompanied by a push to develop new skills,programs, spaces
and methods to contribute to digital humanities (DH) research. At a roundtable on
technology and change, leaders of the Association of College and Research Libraries
(American Library Association, 2007) argued that libraries must “recast their identities in
relation to the changing modes of knowledgecreation and dissemination, and in relation to
the academic communities they serve”. Although this statement suggests dramatic change
is required, established library values and strengths have important contributions to make
to academic communities that do not demanda revolutionary change in direction, but rather
a shift in how this work is done. While familiarity with DH methods and technologies is
important to support researchers and library users, libraries and librarians should focus
their efforts in their area of expertise and the things they do well, namely, preservation,
access and providing spacesfor doing research. This does not mean that libraries should not
respond to new pedagogical andresearch methodologies. Rather, changes to support digital
DLP
34,3
188
Received25 March 2018
Accepted10 May 2018
DigitalLibrary Perspectives
Vol.34 No. 3, 2018
pp. 188-199
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2059-5816
DOI 10.1108/DLP-03-2018-0009
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