Transforming: Collections, Discovery and Access

From Censorship to Digitization: Bringing Sensitive Collections to Light

Saturday, June 25, 2022

9:00am – 10:00am

Location: Washington Convention Center, 143A

In recent decades, libraries, archives and publishers have placed strategic emphasis on digitizing and making their collections accessible to the public. Most library professionals and members of the public agree that this opening of our cultural heritage is a positive development, representing an important step in the democratization of knowledge. Yet, as the technology becomes more open and affordable, the question surrounding the digitization of some collections becomes less "how can we" than "should we." How open is open? In order to answer these questions, this panel will explore several historical collections that have been intentionally and unintentionally hidden from public view. It will highlight current efforts to unearth these buried or sensitive collections and will address the complications that arise when cataloging, describing and digitizing them.

Sponsored by RUSA-HS

Learning Objectives:

Identify the complexities inherent in digitizing sensitive material and reflect upon the arguments for and against their digitization.
Assess the role of libraries, librarians and archivists in mediating access to sensitive materials.
Place open access to sensitive library collections in historical perspective.

Main Contact(s)

EB

Erica A. Bruchko

Librarian for United States History & African American Studies
Emory University

Moderator(s)

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Brooke Becker

Associate Professor, Liaison to Social Sciences & Communication Studies
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Speaker(s)

Melissa Adler

Assistant Professor of Information & Media Studies
Western University, Canada
Timothy Vollmer

Scholarly Communication and Copyright Librarian
University of California Berkeley Library
Melissa S. Stoner

Native American Studies Librarian
Ethnic Studies Library, University of California, Berkeley