DHPSNY Antiracism Resources: Digitization of Native American Materials in Collections
This article originally appeared on the DHPSNY website.
In the past year and a half, as everyone abruptly shifted to experiencing the world through screens, I noticed a sudden uptick in requests for advice on large-scale digitization initiatives. As libraries, archives, and museums had to close their doors to visitors and researchers, there was a desire to put all of their resources online as soon as possible. I urged a slower and thoughtful approach to digitization through a series of Digitization 101 webinars. In prioritizing collections, I asked collections stewards to consider what materials they may need to limit access to due to copyright, embargo, personally identifying information, or cultural sensitivity, particularly for those with materials related to Indigenous communities. While the first three access issues are fairly straightforward, the last may seem less so. For institutions that hold Indigenous materials, decisions related to access are more nuanced than a simple yes or no answer to whether materials should be made public or private. Read more...