Accessing and preserving publicly engaged publications
Because publicly engaged project publications may take diverse forms, appeal to a wide array of audiences, and entail complex authorship arrangements, project partners need to think carefully about access and preservation. Librarians have a key role to play in mapping the ethics, logistics, and technical options available. What kinds of publications do the participants want and value? Who needs access to them, and how can they be circulated to those people? Are there products created by the project that should not circulate, or should be shared only with a select group? How should the materials created by the project be preserved while protecting the desired limits to access? Are there items or ideas that should not be collected and preserved?
Jenny Brier addresses what must be shared and how to navigate sometimes sensitive content [full video]:
The answers to these questions will be specific to each project, but implementing them will require expertise in digital and print publication options, metadata standards (including those designed for community groups, such as Mukurtu), and collections and preservation best practices. Standards and tools for preserving complex digital multimedia works are evolving quickly, and project partners may need assistance in figuring out the best options.
