Speaker
Marika Sarvilahti (Aalto University)
Abstract
Digitization of analogue and acquisition of born-digital resources are key to safeguarding the preservation of valuable cultural and research collections. This also opens up unique and culturally significant resources for learning, research and artistic activities at the University, and for the wider public. Making collections available online is often however not enough to attract users to engage with them. How to promote and valorise the collections to increase their impact and effective engagement with potential users? This paper will discuss three different strategies in use at Aalto University that have been implemented by the author in the last five years.
Integration in information skills training: Students attending information skills and also archival training will have an opportunity to learn about digital cultural heritage through formal training. Large aggregated digital cultural heritage portals such as Europeana, Finna and Digital Public Library of America are introduced to students and researchers. Also, the University’s own archive and special collections are introduced and brought to light in the context of cultural heritage. Students learn about why digital cultural heritage may be relevant to their studies or research and focuses especially in finding high-quality visual resources, resource licensing and citations. Students and researchers often report the training to be their first encounter with these resources.
Online guide for self-learning and reference: Aalto University collaborated with the University of the Arts Library and the University’s legal advisors in the ImagOA – Open Science and Use of Images project to produce a comprehensive online guide on digital cultural heritage. The guide has a specific focus on visual resources (https://libguides.aalto.fi/vrc). The guide was built on the LibGuides platform with open licensing and has hence been widely adopted by other Finnish University Libraries. The guide uniquely brings together digital cultural heritage collections, information on copyright issues and good citation practices. The guide is referred to in formal information skills training and provides a reference after training to make further discoveries with the resources.
Artist residency for a student artist or designer: A residency program is provided for a student or researcher to make an active exploration of the University archive’s digital collections with the help and instruction given by archivists and the information specialist. The residency covers introductions to collections, in-depth interviews and discussions with the specialists about the topics chosen by the residency holder and allocation of a physical or digital exhibition space for a final project outcome. The residency provides visibility for the residency holder’s work and achievements. Two examples are shared of students who have completed their MA final dissertation collaborating in the program with very creative and innovative projects exploring the use of AI and generative methods with archival materials.
The outcome of the paper will also discuss and bring to context how these engagement activities transform the role of the archivist or librarian. With student and researcher engagement the perspective shifts from passively managing or overseeing collections to actively bringing resources alive in direct engagement. It also provides a user perspective to the collections which should not be overlooked while developing access to and services around collections; a win-win outcome for both those who attend and those who provide the engagement.