Facing the challenge of digital sustainability as humanities researchers

Tucker, J. (2022) Facing the challenge of digital sustainability as humanities researchers. Journal of the British Academy, 10, pp. 93-120. (doi: 10.5871/jba/010.093)

Abstract

Humanities researchers are increasingly united in their concerns about the long-term sustainability of digital resources. Much of our work is now reliant upon the use of resources such as databases, online research tools and digital editions. Libraries and archives are undertaking programmes of ‘mass digitisation’, making our primary sources available to view as digital images on the web. This article presents a view of the current landscape as well as thoughts for the future of digital research for scholars in the humanities. It considers four aspects of sus- tainability (technological, financial, environmental and ‘human’), and offers a new working definition for digital sustainability in this context. This centres on sustainability not just as a technical concern but as a multifaceted activity within which humanities researchers can play a crucial role.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This article is an outcome from the AHRC- and IRC-funded network A Digital Framework for the Medieval Gaelic World (August 2020 – September 2021, Grant reference AH/V00235X/1).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Tucker, Dr Joanna
• Authors: Tucker, J.
• Subjects: A General Works > AZ History of Scholarship The Humanities; D History General and Old World > D History (General); D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D111 Medieval History
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > History
• Journal Name: Journal of the British Academy
• Publisher: British Academy
• ISSN: 2052-7217
• ISSN (Online): 2052-7217
• Published Online: 11 October 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of the British Academy 10:93-120
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License