Digitization in Small Cultural Heritage Repositories: Interviews with NC ECHO EZ Digitization Starter Grant Recipients

by Bowser, Sherrie A.

There is scant literature available that specifically addresses digitization efforts in small cultural heritage institutions. However, even without this specific guidance these institutions are creating digital projects whether by grassroots efforts, collaborations with other institutions, or through participation in regional or statewide digital initiatives. Due to the many factors involved with digitization, (costs, technology, staff time, access, and preservation issues) small cultural heritage institutions encounter many issues and challenges. This study was devised to discover the common practices and obstacles encountered by NC ECHO Digitization Starter Grant award recipients’ cultural heritage institutions during digitization, in the hopes of improving digitization guidelines by making them more responsive the current practice of digitization as experienced by these institutions.