Personal cultural heritage management: a conceptual framework for constructing and curating cultural identities through personal collections
| Date | 23 April 2024 |
| Pages | 1238-1257 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-02-2024-0043 |
| Published date | 23 April 2024 |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Records management & preservation,Document management,Classification & cataloguing,Information behaviour & retrieval,Collection building & management,Scholarly communications/publishing,Information & knowledge management,Information management & governance,Information management,Information & communications technology,Internet |
| Author | Maja Krtalić,Lilach Alon |
Personal cultural heritage
management: a conceptual
framework for constructing and
curating cultural identities through
personal collections
Maja Krtali
c
School of Information Management, Victoria University of Wellington,
Wellington, New Zealand, and
Lilach Alon
Faculty of Education and Teaching, Tel-Hai Academic College,
Kiryat Shemona, Israel
Abstract
Purpose –This theoretical paper introduces a conceptual framework for Personal Cultural Heritage
Management (PCHM), derived from prior research on migrants’information practices. It elaborates on the
literature background and the development of the PCHM framework, highlighting the role of personal
information management (PIM) and personal collections in the creation, access and utilization of cultural
heritage information.
Design/methodology/approach –The study describes and explains the construction of the PCHM
framework as a structured and self-motivated approach to personal heritage and identity learning.
Findings–Following the theoretical background and assumptions, along with the presentation of the key building
blocks, the paper describes the key components of the framework, outlines their definitions andprovides examples.
Research limitations/implications –Theoretically, PCHM extends the current literature by encapsulating
processes and actions employed by individuals to manage personal collections for cultural identity purposes,
thereby underscoring the critical role personal collections play in both preserving and communicating cultural
heritage.
Practical implications –PCHM can guide the development of support systems and policies to enhance
culturalcontinuity and integration,thus empoweringindividuals to navigatetheir cultural identitiesconfidently.
Originality/value –The PCHM framework creates a unique intersection between PIM and cultural heritage,
providing a new perspective for understanding the dynamic evolution and formation of cultural identity
among migrants.
Keywords Personal information management, Personal collections, Information creation, Migrants,
Cultural heritage, Identity
Paper type Conceptual paper
1. Introduction
The concept of cultureand heritage varies significantly among individuals, even among those
who share the same cultural background or country of origin (Sam and Berry, 2010).
Conventionaldefinitionsoften describe culture as thecollective way of life of people in a specific
placeor time (Eliasoph and Lichterman,2003;Pendergraft,1998). However, more recent studies
suggest that culture should not be rigidly defined. Instead, it should be viewed as “an active
belonging, potentially multipleand constantly questioned”(Gsirand Mescoli, 2015,p.7).This
evolving perspective of culture is particularly relevantin the context of migration, which often
prompts individuals to question fundamental aspects of their identity, culture, and sense of
belonging (Krtalic, 2021). During migration, individuals not only navigate geographical
landscapes butalso engage in a complex process of modifying, diversifying,questioning, and
redefining theirhabits, norms, beliefs, and behaviors (Lloyd, 2017).
JD
80,6
1238
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/0022-0418.htm
Received 25 February 2024
Revised 20 March 2024
Accepted 23 March 2024
Journal of Documentation
Vol. 80 No. 6, 2024
pp. 1238-1257
© Emerald Publishing Limited
0022-0418
DOI 10.1108/JD-02-2024-0043
The impact of changes during migration, considered a major life transition (Alon, 2023a),
largely depends on various factors, including the circumstances of migration, quality of life,
and experiences in the host country (Krtalic and Ihejirika, 2023). Current literature on
migration highlights the integration and identity challenges faced by migrants. Such a
complex and life-changing experience leaves a mark on people’s identity, not just for the first-
generation migrants but often for many descending generations (Caidi et al., 2020;Krtalic,
2021). A strong cultural identity can serve as a cornerstone for migrants to counterbalance
the disruptions caused by migration, though expressions of origin country culture are not
universally welcomed (Gsir and Mescoli, 2015;Sayad, 2014, p. 104). Issues of legacy, heritage,
and identity may present even greater complexities for subsequent generations and those in
multicultural families who seek to connect with their ancestral culture and language
(Johansen and Varvin, 2020;Little, 2020). This paper explores the notion of personal culture
and heritage, shaped by such profound life transition experiences.
Previous research has examined various aspects of migrants’integration in new countries
(Berry, 1997;Deng et al., 2022), including how origin and host countries can engage migrants
with cultural resources (Caidi et al., 2010,2020;Krtalic, 2021), and addressed issues of
accessibility in information resources (Giglitto et al., 2022;Lloyd, 2017). However, there
remains a noticeable gap in understanding how the construction and management of
personal collections contribute to the identity formation of migrants and their descendants.
Recognizing the complex links between personal collections, and cultural identity
formation, this paper seeks to address a crucial gap identified in contemporary research.
Specifically,the current paper aims to examinethe potential of personal informationin shaping
culturalidentity among migrants through thelens of a novel conceptual framework –Personal
Cultural Heritage Management (PCHM). This paper does not attempt to answer complex
questions of multicultural identity; rather, it offers a contribution to integration and identity
issues by focusing on the role of personal information and the creation of knowledge about
one’s culture and heritage.
To introduce and explain the PCHM conceptual framework, the paper is structured as
follows: It begins with a background section that explores previous studies on the formation
of cultural identity throughout life and within the context of migration, as well as the
interaction between cultural identity formation and personal collections in the context of
personal information management (PIM). This is followed by a detailed examination of the
PCHM framework, where we describe its empirical background, propositions, key
components, and overal l structure. The paper conc ludes with a discussion of the
framework’s theoretical and practical implications and suggests directions for future
research.
2. Background
2.1 Cultural identity formation
Identity is a complex concept that reflects how individuals see themselves and how they are
perceived by others in different social contexts. It integrates personal attributes, experiences,
and social roles, contributing to a coherent sense of self that persists over time (Hammack,
2008). Cultural identity, a key component of this broader concept, is recognized in the
literature as a phenomenon shaped by social and cultural factors. It encompasses macro-level
demographic categories, temporary stances, and specific cultural positions. The cultural
worldview includes our conception of human nature, the relationship of the individual to
society, and moral and religious values (Bucholtz and Hall, 2005;Kim and Hong, 2021).
Worldview beliefs are transmitted from generation to generation through everyday practices
such as work, play, and meals, as well as culturally relevant rites of passage, including school
graduation, marriage, and childbearing (Miller and Collette, 2019).
Personal
cultural
heritage
management
1239
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