DH in the Library: case study The Library Lab @ UGhent Faculty Library
1. DIGITAL HUMANITIES IN THE LIBRARY
CASE STUDY 2
The Library Lab @ Ghent University
Saskia Scheltjens
Head Librarian Arts & Philosophy UGent
@saschel / skype ID: saskiascheltjens
www.slideshare.net/saschel
LIBER – Annual Conference 2015
DARIAH-EU & DIGITAL HUMANITIES workshop
24/06/2015
4. LIBRARIES UNIVERSITY WIDE
Report Bjørnshauge ‘The Network’ (2003)
Aim: greater (cost) efficiency
Integration of digital collections
Network of libraries (+350!)
Coordinated distributed model
Distribution of tasks & redefined
mission
Action plan & timing
Preferend organisational library structure (2003)
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5. Mission UGhent Libraries
‘Facilitating Open Knowledge Creation’
Mission Central Library (Book Tower)
• Digital Library (software, content, tools)
• Coordination UGhent Libraries Network
• Heritage collection / Digital repository
• Inspiring working environment
Mission Faculty Library
Support current research and education
in the faculty with relevant digital and
print collections and innovative services
Photo: Torsade de Pointes – Rozier & Boekentoren – CC BY
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6. Grand Faculty Arts & Philosophy
Library Reorganisation
(2008 - 2018 )
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7. BEFORE 2008 BY 2018
• No unified local library policy • Overall faculty library policy
• 50 departmental libraries • 1 centralised faculty library
• 222 different locations • 1 location (2 library wings)
• 670.000 volumes • 420.00 vol. open stack;
250.000 vol. closed stacks
• Collection catalogued : 52% • Collection catalogued: 100% -
enriched with extra metadata
• Different opening hours,
rules, procedures and policies
• Single & extended opening hours ;
compliant procedures & policies
• Demotivated staff • Young(er) and dedicated staff
• Almost no public services • (New) extended public services
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LIBRARIES FACULTY ARTS & PHILOSOPHY
8. But the REAL challenge
is this
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10. UGhent, one of the
Blandijn Libraries,
Medieval History,
2008
Photo: Saskia Scheltjens – CC BY 2.0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/faclibflw/3931462838
20th
century
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12. Foto: Christophe Vander Eeken - https://www.flickr.com/photos/faclibflw/16394814559
21st
century
But also
this …
Faculty Library UGhent,
Arts & Philosophy
Art History, 2015
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14. Local DH initatives @ UGhent
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http://www.ghentcdh.ugent.be
A platform to show all DH related projects within the faculty of Arts &
Philosophy @ UGent in order to stimulate co-operation
http://be.dariah.eu
Cooperation between Belgian universities, research and cultural
heritage institutions, coordinated by UGhent (2015)
16. =
• New department in the new Faculty Library Arts & Philosophy
meant to actively support current researchers, teachers and
students with regard to all things digital
• 2 dedicated spaces IN the faculty library for faculty and students to
work and talk together about all things DH
• Support and/or feedback in working with digital collections, tools
and services
• Expert advice (e.g. copyright, technical, project management)
• Development of digital training module and tutorials
• Creating technical proofs of concept
Library Lab UGhent by 2018
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17. Library Lab -
Faculty Library Arts &
Philosophy, UGhent
2015Photo: Saskia Scheltjens – CC BY 2.0 https://www.flickr.com/photos/faclibflw/15709355495
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19. Started in October 2014
Past formats in the programme
• DH Showcase - researcher tells about his/her current research x DH
• DH Toolkit - researcher demonstrates the tools s/he uses
• Master classes – e.g. topic modelling, data visualisation, social network
analysis, text encoding initiative (TEI), …
• Applied Python workshops
• Lectures
• Workshops e.g. Learn to make a poster, Learn to work with Prezi;
Zotero,…
• Hackathons:
• Wikimedia edit-a-thon ‘Women@UGhent’
• Datasalon
• ….
Library Lab UGhent
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20. Library Lab UGhent
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TYPES OF EVENT NUMBERS OF EVENTS PARTICIPANTS
DH Showcase 7 51
DH Toolkit 5 42
Doctoral School 5 129
Hackathon 4 66
Lecture 2 44
THATCamp 1 14
Workshop 12 119
Total 36 465
Some statistics …
SEMESTER PARTICIPANTS
2014-2015 semester 1 250
2014-2015 semester 2 215
Total 465
22. ADDITIONAL PROJECTS
1. RESEARCH DATA PROJECT, sponsored by Research Committee of
the Faculty of Arts & Philosophy
Survey and analysis about the reusability and sustainability of
existing research data. Benchmarking report.
2. DROP-IN SESSIONS about COPYRIGHT & IP, sponsored by the
Faculty Library in close cooperation with the Book Tower
3. DROP-IN SESSIONS about DIGITAL RESOURCES & RESEARCH
Library Lab UGent
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