The Manuscript Digital Divide: What Drives Selection in Digitization?

About This Event

In this lecture, Dot Porter will delve into the heart of manuscript digitization, presenting a thorough examination of the selection processes that drive the prioritization of certain manuscripts over others. By analyzing data from various digitization projects and comparing them to the contents of manuscript catalogs, Dot seeks to unveil the intricate dynamics of the "Digital Manuscript Divide." What are the factors that influence the choices made by museums, libraries, and archives in their digitization efforts? Are there discernible patterns? Are specific institutions or types of collections more likely to be digitized? This lecture will navigate the evolving landscape of digitized manuscripts and the ethical implications of digitization. Dot aims to shed light on the criteria, motivations, and complexities behind the selection of manuscripts for digitization, ultimately uncovering the underlying forces that shape our access to the treasures of the past.

Featured Guests

• Dot Porter, Curator of Digital Research Services, Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies, Penn Libraries, University of Pennsylvania

Co-sponsors

• Russell Hope Robbins Library
• University of Rochester