Does Every Research Library Need a Digital Humanities Center?
Publisher:Himalaya Publishing
Category: Humanities
Author : Jennifer Schaffner and Ricky Erway
The report "Does Every Research Library Need a Digital Humanities Center?" by Jennifer Schaffner and Ricky Erway, published by OCLC Research in 2014, explores the role of research libraries in supporting digital humanities (DH). It argues that while some libraries may benefit from dedicated DH centers, others can meet the needs of digital scholars through more flexible, integrated approaches. Key points include: Resource Allocation: Not every library requires a DH center. Instead, libraries can support digital scholarship by packaging existing services, fostering collaborations, and providing targeted resources. Skills and Staff: Digital humanists require a combination of technical, curatorial, and academic skills. Libraries should consider training staff or hiring those with specialized digital competencies. Digitization Efforts: Libraries should involve scholars in digitization planning to ensure that resources meet immediate research needs. Born-Digital Materials: Libraries need to manage born-digital content carefully, as scholars often struggle to access and preserve these materials.
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