Building better 'Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museum Labs’

Abstract

The British Library is one of the largest national libraries in the world and is creating and storing millions of digital items every year. Mahendra Mahey, the British Library Labs Manager, gives an overview of digital collections and data being made available through BL Labs and examines how some of them have been re-used by making connections and collaborating with digital researchers, artists, entrepreneurs, educators, curators and librarians around the world through a range of innovative projects, research questions and engagement activities. He highlights the myths and assumptions many make about libraries and address the significant issues and challenges they face when working with digital collections and data. He reflects on lessons he has learned over nearly two decades of working in higher education, suggesting the types of digital research that could benefit the way libraries may work into the future. To conclude, Mahendra reports on an exciting international support network that he has started to build with colleagues around the world. This community is bringing national, state, university and public Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums together that are planning experimental digital ‘GLAM Labs’ which encourage their users to re-use their digital collections and data.

Description

Included are presentation slides, speaker notes, and event poster,

Keywords

libraries, museums, archives, British Library, digital

Citation