Presented as part of "Realising the Opportunities of Digital Humanities" (#RODH2012) Oct 23-25, 2012, Ireland. More info: www.dri.ie/programme

1. Ahead of the Curve:
Digital Curator Vocational
Education Europe
Susan Schreibman
Trinity Long Room Hub
Associate Professor in Digital
Humanities
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission'

2. Digital agenda for Europe
“In ancient times, the library of Alexandria
was said to contain up to 70% of all human
knowledge. The challenge for the digital age
is to do even better than that – and make
the result last longer.”
• Digital Humanities creates ‘unbelievable opportunities’
for access
• Public sector responsibility for digitisation of cultural
heritage
• Calls for large investment from national governments
and the European Commission
• Digital preservation is seen as a key issue – now needs to
be put in practice
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/digital_libraries/doc/refgroup/final_report_cds.pdf

3. Context in Europe
There are
47 National libraries, 20,500 Public libraries, 10,000
University libraries, 29,000 Special libraries + School
libraries
17,600 Museums
25 National archives plus
Audiovisual archives
Digital Humanities projects have been creating and developing
large volumes of digital material
Digital preservation and curation are live issues for DH
NUMERIC report, 2009 http://www.cipfastats.net/default_view.asp?content_ref=9743

4. Professional Development:
is a lifetime requirement
“Digital curation and preservation are rapidly evolving
fields. To perform effectively, personnel working in
these fields need to update their knowledge
and skills on a continuous basis.”
http://www.digitalpreservationeurope.eu/publications/professional_development.pdf

5. Training and Education
Professional training for the care of traditional
collections is well established
Training in long term management of digital assets has
been identified as a major issue for employers and staff
Digital humanities research – impact?
Professional development is a lifetime requirement
Zach Klein CC BY-NC 2.0
DPC training needs report, 2004 http://www.jisc.ac.uk/uploaded_documents/finalReport.pdf

6. The DigCurV Network
DigCurV is a Multilateral Europe
network funded under the Fondazione Rinascimento Digitale
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
EC’s Leonardo da Vinci Stiftung Öffentlichen Recht,
programme Goettingen State and University
Library
Aims to support and extend Humanities Advanced Technology
vocational training for Institute , University of Glasgow
MDR Partners (Consulting) Ltd
digital curators in libraries, Trinity College Dublin
archives and museums Vilniaus Universiteto Biblioteka
Third countries
Started on 1st January 2011 Faculty of Information at the
University of Toronto (uToronto)
30 months Institute of Museum and Library
Services (IMLS)
Associates
Digital Preservation Coalition
Nestor

7. Main activities
Identify and analyse existing training opportunities and
methodologies
Survey training needs
Identify key skills and competences
Establish an initial curriculum and a framework
Disseminating the results
Promoting the results for use within and between
countries
– Impact on staff mobility
– Impact on educators

8. Draft Curriculum framework
indicate core digital curation skills and competences, and
pathways of skills progression
Will NOT specify a particular training curriculum
Portfolio three lenses: Practitioner, Manager and
Executive
Each lens aims to answer the question, 'When building
digital curation training for this level of staff in a cultural
heritage institution, what should be included?‘

9. Evaluation Framework
Referenced models from: DigCCurr Matrix , Digital Preservation Outreach
and Education initiative’s training audiences pyramid, RIN’s Researcher
Development Framework & DCC lifecycle
different ways to view and evaluate digital curation curriculum or piece of
training.
– assess what training is already available, clarify which potential approaches,
audiences and skills may need to be addressed.
– For assessing training, Evaluation Framework provides a structure to which
training offerings can be mapped.
– clarify where provision is ample and which approaches, audiences or skills are
scarcely served in existing training.
– Mapping can also provide a benchmark to allow comparison of different
training offerings against each other.

10. • Project planning concepts and techniques • Digital cura on &
• Understanding: preserva on • Selec on/appraisal criteria
- crea on, management and monitoring of project terminology • Informa on- and records
plans • Subject-specific management
- common project management ac vi es and defini ons • Benefits and long-term value
innova ve prac ces • Technology • Ins tu onal policies
- data management requirements defini ons and skills
• Producing relevant informa on for decision-making • Digital cura on & • Long-term evalua on of
• Dealing with data cura on challenges through preserva on Selec on /
technologies for digital
proper planning techniques Appraisal
cura on
• User studies
Project Subject • Usability evalua on
• Risk Management
theory and standards Management Knowledge Evalua on
• Data structures and types
• Risk Management Studies • File types and systems
prac ce and techniques
• Databases
in digital repositories Project Knowledge & • Metadata Standards
• Assessment, analysis, Risk Management Intellectual • Informa on seeking
monitoring and Management Informa on
communica on of risks Abili es Literacy
• Informa on access and
sharing
Prac oner Lens
• Understanding: • Understanding:
Ethics, Integrity - malprac ce (fraud,
- social and ethical Professional Personal
responsibility in digital
Principles & plagiarism)
cura on Sustainability Conduct Quali es - responsibility,
- principles of ethical accountability and good
conduct Communica on prac ce in digital
- need to manage, IPR & Skills cura on
Legal Responsiveness
share and curate Copyright
items ethically Requirements to change
• Understanding:
• Understanding: • Legisla on on data protec on, • Maintaining con nuous awareness - cross-disciplinary
- informa on and data freedom of informa on, moral rights with new and emerging communica on
ownership principles and cer fica on of repositories developments - dissemina on ac vi es
- copyright and IPR • Domain policies and standards for • Transla ng current digital cura on - communica on protocols
policies and legisla on management and preserva on of knowledge into new services and • Ability ar culate extent of
for digital materials digital records tools knowledge and explain
• Valida on techniques • Understanding of legal framework in • Assessing, extending and genera ng relevance and importance of
against copyright which digital repositories operate digital cura on models for Cultural digital cura on to peers,
infringement • Applica on of concomitant ac ons Heritage domain other staff and wider public

11. How to use the Curriculum Framework
for Digital Curation
Background Using the framework
DigCurV has undertaken multi- The framework provides three lenses - one each for practitioners, managers and executives. Each
national research to understand the lens can be used in the following ways:
skills currently used by those
working in digital curation in the
To build or develop training
cultural heritage sector, as well as
The framework aims to be useful to those building new training courses. Depending on the user’s
the skills sought by employers in this
aims, the framework can assist in providing a structure for a generic training programme for the role
sector.
of digital curator, or it can suggest which subjects should be covered in shorter, more specialised
courses addressing one particular area of professional digital curation practice. The framework may
Audiences for training also supply a common language to allow those building and developing training to meaningfully
Practitioners need to be able to describe the value of their training offerings.
perform a wide variety of technical
and people-oriented tasks. They
must also understand many diverse To compare existing courses
issues relating to both their area of The framework provides a benchmark against which to compare existing training and also a way to
cultural heritage and to digital map various training offerings against each other. The professional who is considering undertaking
curation. Managers need training may wish to compare available training programmes to help identify which is most
understanding of these areas to appropriate for their needs. The framework can also be used by staff training providers to compare
successfully ensure projects are on existing courses and assess suitability for their own institution’s requirements.
track and to advise their teams.
Executives need a strategic view of
digital curation to understand the To plan professional development
emerging challenges in digital The framework suggests the broad range of skills and knowledge needed by professionals of various
curation for the cultural heritage levels to successfully deliver digital curation in the cultural heritage sector. Individuals either
sector, and to make appropriate intending to enter or already working in digital curation in the cultural heritage sector may find it
funding decisions to meet these useful to map their own strengths against the framework as well as use the framework to identify
challenges. and describe areas in which they would find further training useful.
The DigCurV curriculum framework
provides a version or ‘lens’ for each
of these three audiences.

12. • Understand digital preserva on • Create, manage and monitor project plans • Possess extensive digital • Know and be able to ar culate informa on- and records-
and repository audit and • Possess firm knowledge of data cura on terminology, management principles
cer fica on standards management requirements knowledge, & experience • Understand and be able to ar culate the benefits and long-
• Be able to successfully prepare • Understand project management ac vi es • Understand fundamental term value of collec ons
for an audit of cura on and innova ve prac ces digital cura on principles, • Contribute to ins tu onal policies, including criteria, for
func ons and lead repository • Possess ability to make sound decisions, including lifecycles selec on / appraisal
through cer fica on process based in informa on produced by project • Be knowledgeable of • Apply selec on/appraisal criteria to collec ons and train staff
team designated community
• Be knowledge of financial planning, cost • Be able to select appropriate • Priori se digital objects / collec ons
analysis and economic sustainability technological solu ons Selec on / in terms of value to the ins tu on
• Understand risk • Mo ve staff • Develop a professional Appraisal & current risk level
management theory, • Create a team environment network for support • Con nuously monitor and evaluate
standards, prac ce, digital cura on technologies
and techniques in Project & Subject Evalua on Monitor & assess needs of
digital repositories Audit and Personnel designated community
cer fica on Knowledge Studies
• Possess ability to Management • Know how to conduct user analysis
Asses, analyse,
monitor and • Understand an array of data
communicate risks
Project Knowledge and Informa on structures, file types, & systems
• Ability to create Management and Intellectual Literacy • Possess substan al knowledge of
Risk metadata standards
succession planning
Management Quality Assurance Abili es
policy • Understand informa on seeking
strategies, access technologies, &
Manager Lens user data sharing behaviors
• Understand:
- social and ethical Ethics, Integrity • Possess ability to iden fy
responsibility in digital Principles and Professional Personal malprac ce (fraud, plagiarism)
cura on Sustainability Conduct Quali es • Understand what cons tutes
- principles of ethical responsibility, accountability and
conduct good prac ce in digital cura on
- need to manage, share Communica on • Make decisions transparently
and curate items ethically IPR and Responsiveness to Skills** • Plan & implement sound staff
• Evaluate and treat Legal
Copyright Change training and development
employees fairly Requirements
• Be willing to incorporate new and • Communicate across disciplines and staff levels
• Understand informa on
• Understand legal frameworks in which cura on • Plan and deliver dissemina on ac vi es
ownership principles emerging digital cura on
is taking place, e.g. data protec on, freedom of • Ability to ar culate extent of knowledge and
• Be knowledgeable of copyright technologies and processes
informa on, moral rights explain importance of digital cura on to peers,
& IPR law for digital materials • Translate knowledge of technology
• Be familiar with domain policies and standards other staff & wider public
• Understand valida on and processes into new services and
for management and preserva on of digital • Ability to ar culate value of collec ons to
techniques to detect copyright tools for needs of designated
objects peers, other staff & wider public
infringement community
• Understand ins tu onal policy frameworks in • Make case for funding of cura on ac vity
• Incorporate rights management • Assess, extend and generate digital
which digital repositories operate • Make case for prac oner training and
into cura on workflows cura on models for cultural
• Apply appropriate ac ons to cura on workflow development
heritage and other domains

13. • Awareness of audit • Management and • Awareness of relevance of and need for • Awareness of informa on and records-management principles
and cer fica on business con nuity digital cura on ac vity within subject • Understand and maximise benefits and long-term value of collec ons
standards skills context • Understand and inform ins tu onal selec on / appraisal policies
• Awareness of the • Strategic planning • Subject-specific knowledge and defini ons
benefits of audit competencies • Awareness of current subject landscape • Understand value of digital
• Team management (trends, people, ins tu ons) objects and risks facing objects in
skills order to priori se funding of
• Succession Selec on /
planning cura on ac vi es.
Appraisal • Respond to findings from user
competencies
studies construc vely in future
• Risk
Audit and Project Subject decision-making
management Management Knowledge
theory and cer fica on Evalua on • Ongoing awareness of
standards technologies for digital cura on
Studies
• Monitoring and
communica on Project Knowledge and • Awareness of diverse cura on
Management and needs of data types
of risks Risk Intellectual • Awareness of diverse cura on
Quality Assurance Informa on
Management Abili es Literacy needs of file types and systems
• Understanding of social • Awareness of metadata standards
and ethical responsibility
in digital cura on
Execu ve Lens • Informa on seeking strategies
• Informa on access and sharing
• Understanding of and Ethics,
ability to maintain Principles & Professional Personal Integrity • Leadership in high quality
adherence to principles of Sustainability Conduct Quali es standards of work
ethical conduct • Responsibility and
throughout ins tu onal accountability for good
policies (inc. those Communica on prac ce in digital cura on
affec ng cura on ac vity) IPR & Copyright Legal Responsiveness to Skills • Policy formula on to deal
Requirements change with malprac ce (fraud,
• Current knowledge plagiarism)
on copyright and • Transparent decision-
IPR policies and • Current understanding of legisla on on data making
legisla on protec on, freedom of informa on and moral • Maintainiawareness of emerging developments • Responsive to staff
• Awareness of need rights. in discipline, and their applicability to cura on training and development
for valida on • Familiarity with domain policies and standards ac vity in the ins tu on needs
techniques against for management and preserva on of digital • Understand poten al of developments in digital
copyright records cura on to influence new services and tools • Cross-discipline communica on
infringement • Understanding of legal framework in which • Cul va ng and maintaining rela onships with • Ability to promote relevance and value
• Ability to digital repositories operate and, where other relevant sources of informa on in digital of collec ons to peers, other staff and
incorporate necessary, dissemina on to senior staff cura on (individuals / services / ins tu ons) wider public
effec ve rights • Ability to incorporate legal requirements into • Understanding of poten al developments in • Awareness of communica on protocols
management into ins tu onal policies business models, strategic planning and • Ability to communicate across staff
ins tu onal policy • Understanding of ins tu on's legal culpabili es management models in digital cura on levels at ins tu on

14. Next steps
iterative development of the curriculum framework and the
international network will be specifically asked to participate
in evaluation events in the near future
Workshop in Florence (Trusted Digital Repositories and Trusted
Professionals) http://digcurvmsh2012.eventbrite.com/
10th December – free!

15. Curate!
http://www.digcur-education.org/eng/Resources/CURATE-Game

16. My special thanks for Ann Gow and the
DigCurV project team for assistance with
this presentation
Follow us and join the network!
Susan.schreibman@tcd.ie
www.digcur-education.org