Ken Middleton

Collaborative digitization programs: a multifaceted approach to sustainability

Purpose – To provide an introduction to the eight articles in the issue that deal with collaborative digitization programs.Design/methodology/approach – This introduction summarizes the articles within the context of sustainability.Findings – In addition to business planning, efforts to build collaborative networks, empower content providers, and engage end‐users are central to developing sustainable programs.Originality/value – Readers gain a quick overview of some of the key issues that digitization programs face.

Collaborative publishing in digital history

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to provide examples of how partnerships can be used to build innovative digital collections. Design/methodology/approach – This article explores multiple aspects of Middle Tennessee State University’s (MTSU) Walker Library’s partnerships with the Center for Historic Preservation and MTSU’s graduate program in public history. Specific topics covered include pairing interpretive essays with groups of highly relevant images to engage students, incorporating responsive design to encourage use of mobile devices and creating an interactive map that links locations to digital content. Findings – By strengthening existing partnerships and proactively seeking new opportunities, libraries that do not have unique primary source collections can take a leading role in publishing digital history collections. Historians have been vital to the success of the Library’s digital projects, particularly those that incorporate multiple layers of historical context. Originality/value – T...