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“Rare materials, digitization, and the role of curators”: International workshop held on February 12.

An international workshop named “Rare materials, digitization, and the role of curators” was held on February 12. In Talk 1, Ms Pip Willcox (Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford) noted that new possibilities might be opening up for text transcription, metadata or annotation addition, and the searching/extracting/linking of such data. Ms Willcox’s phrase “Digital is more than digitization”?was impressive.

 

In Talk 2, Mr Keitaro Tokoi (Center for Historical Social Science Literature, Hitotsubashi University) explained the Center’s history and policy. The Center staff has been working diligently on the long-term conservation and digitization of all physical objects. In April, the Center assumes its responsibility as a leading expert in the Project for Hub and Network to Conserve Western Historical Materials.

 

The workshop’s two speakers agreed that as curators were responsible for both physical and digital objects, they should take advantage of new conservation techniques for each.?While physical objects have particular characteristics like touch and smell, they inevitably deteriorate. In contrast, digital objects could allow for new research methods through data addition; however,?these digital copies will never be perfect duplicates.

Furthermore, it was evident from the audience’s feedback that they understood the advantages and disadvantages of digitization and were interested in the Center’s past, present, and future challenges.

 

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photo: Ms Pip Willcox

Ms Pip Willcox (Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford)

 

photo: Mr Keitaro Tokoi

Mr Keitaro Tokoi (Center for Historical Social Science Literature, Hitotsubashi University)

 

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