Digitization and the changing roles of libraries in support of humanities research: the case of the Harrison Forman collection

• Authors: Krystyna K. Matusiak

Title variants

PL

Digitalizacja i zmieniające się role bibliotek we wspieraniu badań z zakresu humanistyki na przykładzie kolekcji Harrisona Formana

• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Objective – this article examines the role of libraries in expanding access to primary sources through digitization and in providing support for humanities research. Research method – the author analyzes the literature on information behavior of humanist scholars in light of the increased use of digitized primary sources. Next, using the example of the digitized photographs and diaries from the Harrison Forman Collection, the author explores the emerging role of libraries in creating a new source of scholarly materials and supporting re search in humanities. Results and conclusions – digitization increasingly matters not only for practical reasons of ease of use and access but also by offering a new potential for humanistic research. Digitization projects provide enhanced intellectual control of primary resources, offer an opportunity to uncover hidden collections, and bring together scattered materials. Digital collections in their present design demonstrate some limitations in supporting scholars’ browsing behavior and in providing contextual information. Creating digital collections in support of humanities research requires the transformation of library roles and collaboration with digital humanities scholars.

PL

Teza/Cel – Artykuł zawiera analizę roli bibliotek w poszerzaniu dostępu do źródeł pierwotnych poprzez digitalizację, a także w zapewnianiu wsparcia dla badań z zakresu humanistyki. Metoda badań – Autor analizuje literaturę na temat zachowań informacyjnych badaczy w dziedzinach humanistycznych w aspekcie zwiększonego wykorzystania zdigitalizowanych źródeł pierwotnych. Na przykładzie zdigitalizowanych fotografii i pamiętników z Kolekcji Harrisona Formana zwraca również uwagę na zwiększającą się rolę bibliotek w tworzeniu nowego źródła materiałów naukowych oraz wspieraniu przez nie badań w zakresie humanistyki. Wyniki i wnioski – Digitalizacja staje się coraz ważniejsza nie tylko z uwagi na łatwość użycia i dostępu do dokumentów, lecz także poprzez oferowanie nowych możliwości badaczom w dziedzinach humanistycznych. Projekty digitalizacyjne zapewniają rozbudowaną kontrolę intelektualną źródeł pierwotnych, możliwość odkrywania ukrytych kolekcji i gromadzenia materiałów rozproszonych. W swym obecnym kształcie kolekcje cyfrowe wykazują pewne niedomogi, jeśli chodzi o wspieranie naukowców w poszukiwaniach i zapewnianie informacji kontekstowej. Tworzenie kolekcji cyfrowych służących wspieraniu badań humanistycznych wymaga transformacji ról bibliotek i współpracy z badaczami w zakresie humanistyki cyfrowej.

Keywords

EN

Digitization; Primary sources; Cultural heritage materials; Digital collections; Thematic collections; Historical photography; Digital humanities

PL

Digitalizacja; Źródła pierwotne; Zasoby dziedzictwa kulturowego; Kolekcje cyfrowe; Kolekcje tematyczne; Fotografia historyczna; Humanistyka cyfrowa

• Publisher: Polish Librarians Association, Warsaw, http://www.sbp.pl/en
• Journal: Przegląd Biblioteczny
• Year: 2016
• Volume: 84
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 196-213

Contributors

author

Krystyna K. Matusiak

• Morgridge College of Education University of Denver

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