The Digitisation Taskforce recommends that:
1. Digital Centres of Excellence are supported
National or larger collections-holding institutions should be supported to act, formally or informally, as Digital Centres of Excellence to share best practice, skills and equipment with others in the sector.
The Collections Digitisation Network will:
- Continue to act as a focal point and knowledge-sharing network around the subject of cultural heritage digitisation
- Share lessons learnt from Digital Centres of Excellence.
2. Resources are found to support Digital Centres of Excellence
Funders, infrastructure initiatives, higher education and strategic partners should consider resource to develop and sustain Digital Centres of Excellence.
The Collections Digitisation Network will:
- Bring new innovation partners and non-government funders to the table.
3. Nationally-funded programmes focused on interoperability and data-sharing should take account of this report
Nationally-funded programmes focused on interoperability and data-sharing in the cultural and heritage sector, such as The Arts and Humanities Research Council’s ’Towards a National Collection’, should take account of this report and its recommendations.
The Collections Digitisation Network will:
- Continue to work with UK Research and Innovation, The Arts & Humanities Research Council and others, sharing the work of the Taskforce and inviting collaboration and support.
4. Increased investment, promotion and support for content aggregators
There should be increased investment, publicity and support for sector-approved content aggregators
The Collections Digitisation Network will:
- Continue to support national and sector specific content aggregators that act as major gateways to digitised collections, such as Discovery, Archives Hub, Art UK and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, promoting them to their communities.
5. Improved dissemination of standards
There should be improved dissemination of standards through the provision of a Digital Resources Portal, and knowledge sharing via the Digital Centres of Excellence.
The Collections Digitisation Network will:
- Continue to contribute to the development of approaches on persistent identifiers, for example the project undertaken by the Towards a National Collection programme.
6. Economic valuation models for collections and collections data should be developed
Economic valuation models for collections and collections data should be developed. The Department of Culture Media and Sport should support further study in this area.
The Collections Digitisation Network will:
- Provide case studies to illustrate collections value, impact and best practice.
7. The digital skills and maturity of the cultural sector should be increased developed
The digital skills and maturity of the cultural sector should be developed, for example through Art Council England’s Digital Culture Network and Digital Maturity Index.
The Collections Digitisation Network will:
- Provide mentoring, skills sharing, and workshops, subject to resources.
8. Encourage funders to include preservation and sustainability within their requirements.
Encourage research funders such as The Arts & Humanities Research Council and National Heritage Lottery Fund to include preservation and sustainability within their requirements.
The Collections Digitisation Network will:
- Support the production of guiding principles for digital preservation.
9. Maximise investment and research into long-term data infrastructure
Linking existing initiatives to maximise investment and research into sustainable long-term data infrastructure.
The Collections Digitisation Network will:
- Collaborate with UK Research and Innovation and Arts & Humanities Research Council initiatives, such as Infrastructure roadmaps and ‘Towards a National Collection’, and new areas of action when these arise.
Conclusion
Digitisation and related data-discovery technologies have the potential to transform access to the depth and breadth of cultural heritage assets that exist across our sector. There is appetite and enthusiasm to develop the UK’s digitisation into an innovative strategic and dynamic world-leader. Other countries have some great examples of good practice and consistent investment; and that means there are opportunities for us to learn from those, and to leapfrog into a leadership position by adopting new drive and a new approach.
There is a huge economic and scientific benefit to this work. Until we digitise, and digitise in a way that enables data to be visible, discoverable and linked, we cannot exploit the extraordinary potential of the riches of the UK’s cultural heritage. But that is not all. As well as economic gain, there is social value to our heritage, and the more it is shared, the more that value grows. Digitally enabled local spaces can bring our heritage to new communities via new forms of engagement, stimulating new personal commitment to education and community. And digital collections are crucial for research – put simply, they expand access for researchers directly improving the breadth and quality of the research.
With programmes such as Towards a National Collection and the work on the UK Research and Innovation Infrastructure Roadmap now moving ahead, as well as the new strategy from Arts Council England this is a perfect time to publish our report and leverage our work.
The Digitisation Taskforce will continue to act as a knowledge-sharing network, and to work with others to open doors to the extraordinary treasure trove that is the UK’s cultural heritage.
To get in touch with the Network, please email: DigitisationNetwork@nationalarchives.gov.uk