Digital Historical and Cultural Collections and Exhibits: Ethics, Creation, Dissemination, and Funding
Session Abstract
In recent years, there has been a proliferation of web-based historical and cultural projects. This panel will examine how historical and cultural materials are presented on the internet. We are particularly concerned with several issues. First, are there ethical concerns with digitizing and making widely available historical and cultural materials—both written and oral and particularly materials found outside Europe and the United States? Second, what challenges do scholars face when creating digital historical and cultural collections? Third, what are such collections good for and why and for whom do we create them? Fourth, what are the implications for tenure, promotion and annual review of such projects? Finally, how do we fund initially and, importantly, assure the long term funding of digital historical and cultural collections? The panelists will discuss projects that they have been involved with and what tools and programs they have found helpful in their work. This is a roundtable, so it is expected that there will be considerable audience input.