图书馆在数字保存生态系统的价值重构: 芝加哥大学的探索案例

<p>Libraries can play a critical role in preserving and promoting cultural heritage; however, their involvement in such initiatives and projects is often an afterthought rather than an integral component from the outset. This presentation advocates for stronger collaboration between academic units and libraries to ensure these endeavors reach their full potential. We propose that by leveraging metadata standardization, long-term preservation platforms, and cross-institutional partnerships, libraries can transition their role from passive repositories to active participants in cultural heritage projects. In particular, this presentation demonstrates how deeper and better-planned collaboration can enhance sustainability and broaden the engagement of East Asian art digital collections, using the Digital Collections open-access platform created by UChicago’s Center for the Art of East Asia (CAEA) as an example. </p><p>Sponsored by the Cyrus Tang Foundation, the open-access digital database features research materials collected by CAEA in collaboration with cultural institutions worldwide. It includes photographs, videos, audio clips, and 3D models of dispersed artifacts from China’s Buddhist grottos, temples, mausolea, and other cultural heritage sites. Our presentation will explore the merits and values of this project through three lenses: cultural heritage preservation, cultural empowerment, and digital humanities and its impact. </p><p>Libraries are uniquely positioned to facilitate broader academic and public engagement, including the CAEA’s digital projects. By incorporating library-led outreach programs, workshops, and digital exhibits, these projects can reach beyond traditional academic audiences. Strengthening these connections ensures that digital collections are not only preserved but also actively used by scholars, students, and the public. </p><p>More specifically, engaging libraries from the initial brainstorming stage enhances metadata quality, resource integration, interoperability with existing repositories and discovery systems, and long-term accessibility. Libraries bring critical expertise in digital curation, ensuring that collections are not only documented but also strategically structured for sustained use and discoverability. </p><p>A more integrated approach to multicultural preservation and integration requires libraries to play a proactive role in project design. By aligning digital initiatives with existing library resources and services, projects can benefit from robust metadata standards, digital preservation strategies, and improved discoverability. Furthermore, leveraging library networks expands the reach of these projects, connecting researchers, students, and global audiences. </p><p>This case study illustrates the immense potential for deeper collaboration between academic researchers and libraries in cultural heritage preservation and digital innovation. By moving beyond a peripheral role and fostering meaningful partnerships, libraries can help ensure that such initiatives are more sustainable, inclusive, and impactful. Strengthening these partnerships will not only enhance access to East Asian heritage collections, traditional and digital, but also position libraries as key players in advancing digital scholarship and cultural empowerment. </p>