Respecting the language: digitizing Native American language materials
| Pages | 200-214 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/DLP-02-2018-0006 |
| Published date | 13 August 2018 |
| Date | 13 August 2018 |
| Author | Mary Wise,Sarah R. Kostelecky |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology,Records management & preservation,Information repositories |
Respecting the language:
digitizing Native American
language materials
Mary Wise and Sarah R. Kostelecky
Zimmerman Library, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Abstract
Purpose –Many academiclibraries use digital humanities projectsto disseminate unique materials in their
collections; during project planning, librarians will consider platforms, scanning rates and project
sustainability. Rarely, though, will academic librarians consider how members from the communities that
created the materials can contribute to digitization projects. The purpose of this study is to explain how
collaboration with Zuni Pueblo(a Native American tribe in the southwest) community members improved a
digital humanitiesproject to disseminate Zuni language learning materials.
Design/methodology/approach –Methodologically relying on critical making, which involved
community member feedback throughout the process, the Zuni Language Materials Collection will provide
digital accessto 35 language learning items.
Findings –The authors argue thatcollaboration with members of the community of creationdramatically
improved item description, collection discoverability and collection interactivity. This study historicizes
CONTENTdm and describes how the team modified this content management system to meet user needs.
This project produced a prototype digital collection, collaboratively authored metadata and an interactive
portal that invitesusers to engage with the collection.
Practical implications –Libraries continue to struggle to reach and reflect their diverse users. This
study describesa process that others may use and modify to engagenearby Native American communities.
Originality/value –This piece shares a unique strategy of partneringwith Native American community
members on all aspectsof digital humanities project development and design.This case study attempts to fill
a gap in the literature as the first study to describe a digitizationprocess using CONTENTdm with a Native
Americancommunity.
Keywords Digitization, Collaboration, Digital humanities, Digital collection,
Native American language, Zuni Pueblo
Paper type Case study
Introduction
In 2018, the University of New Mexico (UNM) Libraries launched the Zuni Language
Materials Collection (ZLMC) on New Mexico Digital Collections (NMDC), a digitized
collection of language learningmaterials for the language spoken by the Zuni Pueblo people
in New Mexico. This digital humanities project differs from most others with Native
American digital content because members of the community of creation were involved in
the development and release of the project. This collection considered community users
throughout the process. The user population expands beyond the university while focusing
The authors would like to thank those who made this project possible: the ZETAC grant team, the
Zuni Bilingual Education Department, the Zuni Public School District, Arin Peywa The A:shiwi
College and Career Readiness Center and the Digital Initiatives and Scholarly Communication
Department at the University of New Mexico.
DLP
34,3
200
Received10 February 2018
Revised6 April 2018
Accepted21 April 2018
DigitalLibrary Perspectives
Vol.34 No. 3, 2018
pp. 200-214
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2059-5816
DOI 10.1108/DLP-02-2018-0006
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
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