Does Every Research Library Need a Digital Humanities Center? Page: 15
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Does Every Research Library Need a Digital Humanities Center?
Space can be a precious asset to researchers who work collaboratively. If feasible, space
located near ibrary expertise and resources may be especially desirable for fostering
community and helping ibrary staff become essential research facilitators. Such a space can
be a starting point for digital humanists seeking assistance. Or, if resources are imited, it
may simply be a place for scholars to congregate while serving as a physical reminder of the
library's collections and other services.
A formal DH center managed by the library may be the best choice if you have both high
demands and the resources to fulfill them. A DH center cannot depend solely on project
money, however; a center is a commitment. While experimentation is necessary, once a
center is launched, scholars should be able to depend on it.
Once a director decides to invest in a DH center, what services should it offer? Determine this
based on the needs of researchers. They may need access to specialized software or to more
computing power than is available on their desktops. They may need a place to store datasets
they are creating or manipulating. They may need support for multi-institutional
collaboration, such as shared access to secured data. They may need support for statistical
analysis or data visualizations. Offering a fully equipped space not only will meet those needs,
but also will provide more opportunities for assistance and involvement.
It can be advantageous to staff a DH center with expert programmers and domain specialists,
but this may not be necessary as ong as scholars can reach someone who will be able to
respond quickly. Subject ibrarians can consult and collaborate with DH teams. Ideally some
DH academics themselves will end up offering services in "your" center. Remember, however,
that most researchers prefer to be autonomous. They will flourish outside the center. Lavish
your attention upon those who want it.
Scholars often mention DH centers positively, both those with significant library involvement
and those wholly separate from the library. When asked whether the ibrary should host a DH
Lab, one scholar-librarian looked quizzical and wondered what needs a center in a library
would serve. Another DH scholar declared that the library is their Lab.
DH can be "dean-candy" and elevate the visibility of the humanities generally (Cecire 2011).
A ibrary DH center can draw favorable attention of university administration on the entire
humanities faculty and the library.http: //www.octc.oro,/content/dam/research/publications/ ibrary/2014/oclcresearch-digital-humanities-center-2014. pdf
Jennifer Schaffner and Ricky Erway, for OCLC Research Page 15
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Schaffner, Jennifer & Erway, Ricky. Does Every Research Library Need a Digital Humanities Center?, book, February 2014; Dublin, Ohio. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc272207/m1/15/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .