=Paper=
{{Paper
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|title=Integrating Digital Curation in a Digital Library Curriculum: the International Master DILL Case Study
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1016/paper20.pdf
|volume=Vol-1016
|dblpUrl=https://dblp.org/rec/conf/digcurv/Tammaro13
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==Integrating Digital Curation in a Digital Library Curriculum: the International Master DILL Case Study==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1016/paper20.pdf
Integrating Digital Curation in
a Digital Library Curriculum:
the International Master DILL Case Study
Anna Maria Tammaro
Information Engineering Department.
DILL Local Master Coordinator
University of Parma Parma Italy
annamaria.tammaro@unipr.it
Abstract—The paper describes the design and delivery of the The facilitator and the educator roles of the digital librarian in
curriculum of the International Master DILL and the methodology cultural institutions have been especially stressed, in relation to
used to integrate the digital curation module and its specific cultural heritage institutions., starting a debate about
learning objectives. Convergence and Identity of different professionals in the sector.
Keywords— Digital Library Education, Digital curation Exactly what a digital library is, and what its societal role
may be, remains undecided and debated, with two different
I. INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITIONS
approaches taken by the Computer science community on one
DILL (Digital Library Learning) is an international Master hand and the Library and Information Science (LIS) community
for the education of digital librarians, selected and financed from on the other (Borgman 1999). In 2003 a first definition by the
the Erasmus Mundus Program and started in 2006. It is a joint Digital Library Federation suggested that:
course, taught in English, and delivered by a Consortium of
Universities coordinated by Oslo Akershus University (Norway), Digital libraries are organisations that provide the resources,
together with the Tallinn University (Estonia) and the University including the specialized staff, to select, structure, offer
of Parma (Italy). The students come from all areas of the world intellectual access to, interpret, distribute, preserve the integrity
and spend the first semester in Oslo, the second in Tallinn and the of, and ensure the persistence over time of collections of digital
third in Parma, completing their thesis where they choose their works (Digital Library Federation 2003).
supervisor. Defining the role of the digital librarian, the DILL The emphasis here appears to be on the production and
Consortium partners defined it as: organisation of digital documents in order to increase access to a
more distributed community, and to preserve these documents in
1) a bridge between digital resources and users (the particular ways. A second definition by the DELOS Network of
traditional role of the literature mediator, but done remotely); Excellence on Digital Libraries envisions a Digital Library as a
2) an agent of innovation, of citizenship, of information tool at the center of intellectual activity having no logical,
literacy etc. (the concept for the digital librarian as a facilitator of conceptual, physical, temporal, or personal borders or barriers to
learning, a mentor, as a friend of the user, as a personal trainer information. (dl.org, 2010, online).
who guides the user);
3) communication skills are important for the social role of The DILL Consortium decided that experts from the two
the librarian which is still prominent, and even more so in a communities should offer their views in the challenges that face
digital environment (the concept of a social role, for active digital libraries managers and researchers now and in the next
decades. From this multifaceted perspective it appears that
citizenship and social inclusion in the Learning Society, also the
Digital Libraries continue to be a new topic in existing research
collaboration needed with stakeholders);
fields, and education has to take into account this
4) pedagogical skills are enforced in a digital environment
interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary aspect.
(the role of educator, teaching digital librarian) – the concept of
the digital library as a virtual classroom. We reflect here on our experiences of the participatory nature
of Digital Library curriculum design and discuss how, as a team
with different backgrounds, we developed a common learning to improve the problem solving and competencies of
understanding using a “workshop model” which has been run and graduates.
iteratively refined at five major international conferences,
involving over 200 participants. The DILL Consortium met in II. DIGITAL CURATION AND DIGITAL LIBRARY
Florence in 2004 (Tammaro 2007) and according to the Digital curation is a term closely linked to the Digital Library
participants’ opinions, the competences, skills and roles of the concept. Using the definition of the Digital Curation Centre,
digital librarian vary, and were recognised as dependent on the digital curation is:
specific type of the library or information center in which the
digital librarian works and on his/her level of qualifications and The term digital curation is used [to describe] the actions
needed to maintain digital research data and other digital
responsibility. The qualification level of the digital librarian
materials over their entire life-cycle and over time for current and
envisioned by the Consortium partners is that of the Managerial
future generations of users. Implicit in this definition are the
level.
processes of digital archiving and preservation but it also
The cooperation with the Computer science community includes all the processes needed for good data creation and
started with a workshop held in 2005 in Parma with the title management, and the capacity to add value to data to generate
“Information Technologies Profiles and Curricula for libraries”, new sources of information and knowledge’ (UK Digital
jointly organized by the DELOS Network of Excellence, the Curation Centre, 2008, online).
European Library Automation Group (ELAG) and the University
This concept includes some of the functions of digital
of Parma International Master in Information Studies (Tammaro
2006). After this, in a seminar held in Parma in November, 2010, libraries: the selection, the organisation and subsequent
and in Berlin during the TPDL Conference in 2011, and at LIDA preservation of documents or cultural objects, although the term
is often applied to the preservation of digital “data” (such as
in Zadar in June 2012, the Consortium partners of the Master in
might be collected during a research project), or perhaps to the
Digital Library Learning met with the team at dl.org (formerly
bit streams which constitute the digital format, rather than
DELOS), and have begun a process of knowledge sharing and
documents (for example, the research report). Such digitally
collaboration for research (Casarosa et al. 2011). This group
acknowledges the multidisciplinary nature of their work, and recorded collections are kept in digital repositories, which are
states that Digital Libraries represent the meeting point of many different from digital libraries in several noteworthy ways. Most
importantly, they serve a different purpose: the data in the digital
disciplines and fields, including data management, information
repositories can be mined or processed using different techniques
retrieval, library sciences, document management, information
systems, the web, image processing, artificial intelligence, in order to answer different sets of research questions, and thus
human–computer interaction, and digital curation. What emerged digital repositories constitute a vital part of a country’s cyber
from these first events was the identification of three main infrastructure. Digital repositories are sometimes also called
digital archives but archives contain a particular type of
profiles at the operational, managerial and strategic level of a
documents, arranged and stored in explicit ways, often for legal
library. Two of them, called the digital librarian and the system
requirements. Furthermore, most of what might be the technical
librarian, were identified as higher level qualifications.
and practical side of digital curation is handled by software
The third one, which could be called the “end-user librarian”, engineers.
is a profile with a deep knowledge of the information needs and
applications of the selected user community, allowing her to In the first intake of the international Masters DILL, topics
related to digital preservation were taught in the modules Access
provide input to the digital librarian on one side and to assist the
to Digital Libraries. After a first evaluation of the program, with
library users on the other, by providing reference services
different possibilities for access and different models for
(possibly using web search engines) and assistance in the use of
the new functionality made available by the digital library, such preservation, it was decided that it may be desirable to ensure
as annotations and co-laboratories. knowledge and skills about digital curation, which should not be
ignored.
The Consortium partners thought that a new approach should
view curriculum development intellectually at the unit level III. METHODOLOGY USED FOR DILL DIGITAL CURATION MODULE
(what topics and learning objectives/competencies are common DESIGN
across related disciplines) and how best to facilitate this What will be the role of established institutions for
development for professional graduates. At the very least, such knowledge sharing and knowledge mediation (such as libraries,
approaches could use research findings about interdisciplinary museums and archives) in this new digital context? The
traditional role of such institutions has been to acquire, organize, decisions can impact their hands-on data endeavors. From the
secure access to and mediate printed material. Digitization is Delphi study, the ten technical competences of digital curator
extending the role of these institutions and professionals who can are:
help people find their way in an increasingly complex
1) Selects and appraises digital documents for long-term
informational world where information overload might be a
preservation.
result just as probable as increased and efficient access to
2) Has an expert knowledge on the purpose of each kind of
relevant information. The curator is often a specialist in the field
digital entities used within the designated community
and through his competence enriches the collection in a variety of
and its impact on preservation.
ways. First of all the curator is an expert in the activities of
3) Knows data structure of different digital objects and
selecting the collection, in which the whole is considered greater
determines the appropriate support it needs.
than the single parts. The services evidence above all the value
4) Understands storage and preservation policies,
added of the curator who has an educational and of personalizing
procedures and practices that ensure the continuing
role of the service, the curator is able to interpret the significance
trustworthiness and accessibility of digital objects.
of the collection and communicate it to users. The curator also
5) Is aware of the requirements for an information
has more technical competences such as the activities of indexing
infrastructure in order to ensure proper access, storage
and documentation, which enrich the single objects of
and data recovery.
information in their descriptive and historical context.
6) Diagnoses and resolves problems to ensure continuous
In “A Study of Digital Curator Competences: A survey of accessibility of digital objects, in collaboration with IT
experts”, the DILL student Madrid (2011) defined and validated professionals.
competence statements for the Libraries Archives Museum 7) Monitors the obsolescence of file formats, hardware and
(LAM) digital curators through a Delphi research technique. The software and the development of new ones (e.g. using
researcher intended to get equal number of participants from the such tools as PRONOM registry)
Library, Archives and Museum sectors, but no reply was received 8) Ensures the use of methods and tools that support
from emailed-anticipated participants from the Museum sector. interoperability of different applications and preservation
However, the major respondents of this study were university technologies among users in different locations.
professors or researchers concerned with digital curation and 9) Verifies the provenance of the data to be preserved and
preservation in LAM sector which is now considered an ensures that it is properly documented.
interconnected profession. Using a modified Delphi method with 10) Has the knowledge to assess the digital objects’
three rounds of questionnaires interspersed with controlled authenticity, integrity and accuracy over time.
feedback and space for comments and/or suggestions were sent
B. Managerial competences
to panel members. A five point Likert scale was employed in the
questionnaire. The ten competences of the digital curator evidenced by the
Delphi study are:
The definition of Digital Curator which has been agreed upon
by the experts participating to the Delphi study and later adopted 1) Plans, implements, and monitors digital curation
by the International Master DILL is: projects.
“Digital curators are individuals capable of managing digital 2) Understands and communicates the economic value of
objects and collections for long-term access, preservation, digital curation to existing and potential stakeholders,
sharing, integrity, authenticity and reuse. In addition, they have a including administrators, legislators, and funding
range of managerial and operating skills, including domain or organizations.
subject expertise and good IT skills” 3) Formulates digital curation policies, procedures,
practices, and services and understands their impact on
The list of the 20 statements is divided into Operational and the creators and (re)users of digital objects.
Managerial competences for maintaining the structure of DILL 4) Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships
learning objectives, but the statements are the result of a holistic with various stakeholders (e.g., IT specialist, information
approach. professionals inside and outside the institution, data
A. Technical competences creators, (re) users and other stakeholders like vendors,
memory institutions and international partners) to
Knowledge of the digital infrastructure is important since
facilitate the accomplishment of digital curation
digital curators should be well informed about how infrastructure
objectives
5) Organizes personnel education, training and other In particular, the content of the International Master DILL
support for the adoption of new developments in digital includes:
curation.
Digital document: Representation and preservation of digital,
6) Is aware of the need to keep current with international
multimedial content. Methods, evaluation of open-source or other
developments in digital curation and understands the
software for the purpose.
professional networks that enable this.
7) Understands and is able to communicate the risk of Digital repositories: Prerequisites and functionality for
information loss or corruption of digital entities. deposit of digital material in institutional repositories. Access to
8) Organizes and manages the use of metadata standards, Scientific Repositories for e-Science and e-Learning, &
access controls and authentication procedures. Knowledge extraction.
9) Is aware of relevant quality assurance standards and
Making the digital library work for users: The students
makes a well considered choice whether to employ them
or not. examine how digital libraries are valued by their users and
10) Observes and adheres to all applicable legislation and explore ways of permitting the allocation of resources to areas of
user-identified needs. Pertinent models from marketing,
regulations when making decisions about preservation,
economics and library assessment and evaluation are reviewed.
use and reuse of digital objects in collaboration with
legal practitioners The module will illustrate methodologies for analysing
different communities of practice, learning needs and behaviour.
IV. DILL DIGITAL CURATION KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCES
Three skill areas of the five stages of the data life cycle, are Digital collection development: Planning the digital project,
traditionally regarded as pure data curation, and they build on the Selection and appraisal; Negotiating licences; Digitisation
workflow; Metadata consideration: access, storage, preservation
traditional library and information science skills of data
and rights management; Standards issues: metadata and content
collection, data management, and data archiving/preservation.
standards; Preservation and archiving. Institutional repositories:
The other areas of the above mentioned competences, are the metadata – concepts – models – hardware&software.
areas of domain knowledge, infrastructure and project
management. Based on our understanding of the notion of digital Digital library services: Integration of access –
library, and that the role of the digital librarian is socially interoperability – metasearching - usability. Digital reference.
Digital publishing. Personalisation - Cooperative and
validated, but at the same time arguing that the use of digital
communication asset
technologies provide an opportunity for a re-conceptualisation
and re-articulation of purpose, we decided that the following Digital library values: Users behaviour, typologies of users.
topics should be included in our curriculum for digital curation. Digital libraries evaluation and users studies. Digital humanities.
DILL Students at the end of the module should be able to: Scholarly communication in the 21st Century. E-government
strategies.
• know how the curation of digital resources differs from
that of traditional materials and how to deal with them; Economic and legal issues of the digital library Copyright -
• understand what the implications are –in technical, Privacy and legal issues. Business plan for the digital library –
institutional, economic and legal terms—of assuming the sustainability – cost issues. Staffing
responsibility for long-term digital curation DILL students follow a Laboratory for digital curation and
• manage projects and organise digital collection in order prepare a Group work. At the end of the Parma modules they
to guarantee that digital materials remain accessible and usable participte to an internship period in a digital library institution,
for as long as needed by their user communities. completing a project work about a digital library issue of their
choice. Students are involved in the development of the course,
The topics traditionally regarding digital curation are to be preparing a Digital Library as final task of the Parma modules
covered in the more technical modules of the International and are given the possibility of evaluating their achievements of
Master DILL: Digital document (1st Semester) and Access to learning objectives, preparing a portfolio collecting their results
Digital Libraries (3rd Semester), together with the Unit during the individual, Group work and Internship assignments.
Collection Development inside the module Users and Usage (3rd
Semester). The other areas of competences are the same of the
digital librarians and spread in the all curriculum.
V. CONCLUSION be based on an integrated and holistic, interdisciplinary
knowledge base.
For the DILL Consortium, Digital libraries are technological
systems and can be studied as such. But they are also ACKNOWLEDGMENT
organizations that can be researched in that respect, they are
The author acknowledges the DILL student Melody Madrid
arenas for information seeking behavior and for social processes
(Philippines) for her thesis research work individuating the
such as learning and knowledge sharing, they are collections of
competences of the digital curator.
content that need curation (collection, description, preservation,
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