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Presentation Convergence of technology and the real stuff : the making of the digital and non-digital in archives, libraries and museums at the IFLA Satellite 2014 Library Theory and Resarch Section Turin, 13-14 August 2014.
Abstract:
Digital technologies are a game changer for libraries, archives and museums (LAMs) even if it is highly debatable how they a part of the evolution of these institutions and their societal context. A survey of LAM literature shows that there tends to be a divide between technical literature and conceptual literature about technology in particular contexts with only a limited convergence between these two strands of research and practice. A similar divide can be seen in how professionals conceptualise their institutions and their future.
The presentation discusses and argues that explicit and implicit dichotomising of technical tasks and conceptual tasks is counterproductive. The tasks such as digital preservation and digital curatorship are conceptual and theoretical enterprises in how they develop and adapt new technical solutions for the broader cultural and societal endeavours of the LAMs. The presentation is based on an extensive review of literature and an empirical survey study of Swedish LAM professionals and their views on the future of their institutions.