The Digital Imperative: Envisioning The Path To Sustaining Our Collective Digital Heritage

Publication/report
Toolkit/framework/roadmap

Resources

Docs & Forms

OCM Datasheet

Intended Audience

Those working with digital collections

K. Van Malssen, A. Tandon and K. Hazejager, ICCROM

2021

“This report is the product of a study conducted by the International Center for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) that aims to understand the challenges, needs, and goals of heritage professionals working to sustain digital heritage.

The objective of this project is to understand the possible scope of a proposed Sustaining Digital Heritage programme at ICCROM, and how it could fill existing gaps rather than duplicate efforts of other professional groups.

The research effort aims to identify:

● A prospective market for such a programme

● Constituent needs and goals

● Current capacity development offerings

● Opportunities for a future programme at ICCROM

● Key players and prospective partners

In this report, we share the findings from interviews with over 30 heritage professionals from around the world, and what concerns them about the sustainability of digital heritage. We then propose a model for sustaining digital heritage that responds directly to these needs. Next, we look at the current landscape of professional development training, to learn what opportunities there are for heritage professionals to gain digital skills that will help them with sustainability. Finally, we touch on ways ICCROM may be able to provide support for capacity development in this evolving and dynamic domain.“ (p.6)

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English

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SDGs LINKAGES

The resource can help support action for SDG targets relating to collections, including 4.4 (staff skills), 4.A (inclusive learning environments), 9.1 (infrastructure for human wellbeing and sustainable development), 11.4 (strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard cultural and natural heritage), 11.7 (safe and inclusive green and public spaces), 16.6 (effective, accountable and transparent institutions), 16.10 (protect the right to information), 16.B (promote laws and policies for sustainable development).

Click on the SDG Target to discover Our Collections Matter indicators

SDG 4.4: Increase the Number of People with Relevant Skills for Financial Success
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number of young people and adults in skills-development activities and programmes drawing on collections, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
Increase in number of young people and adults in such programmes.
Number and proportion of staff who have received training in the last year, to better support their contribution to the SDGs.
Programs and processes in place to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce.
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SDG 4.A: Build and Upgrade Inclusive and Safe Schools
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number and proportion of education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive.
Proportion of education facilities that provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.
Number and type of initiatives to improve effectiveness of learning environments.
Support given to other education facilities to make them more inclusive and effective.
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SDG 9.1: Develop Sustainable, Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructures
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Development of research-useful collections to support reliable, sustainable and resilient use by researchers and others.
Number and proportion of collections facilities and stores that support economic development and human well-being.
Number and proportion of collections facilities and stores that provide affordable and equitable access for all.
Investment in collections facilities.
Inclusion of collections information in regional and transborder initiatives, notably via digital access for discoverability.
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SDG 11.4: Protect the Worlds Cultural and Natural Heritage
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Total expenditure (public and private) per capita spent on the preservation, protection and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage, by type of heritage.
Plans, policies and procedures in place for the safe use of collections for a variety of purposes, protecting and safeguarding both collections and those who use them.
Plans, policies and procedures in place for the identification, safeguarding and protection of cultural and natural heritage at risk.
Collecting programmes in place to protect, safeguard and make use of cultural and natural heritage, addressing the needs of communities and stakeholders, and ensuring that collections can be an effective resource for sustainable development.
Number and diversity of educational, awareness-raising, research programmes, and partnerships that aim to strengthen protection of cultural and natural heritage.
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SDG 11.7: Provide Access to Safe and Inclusive Green and Public Spaces
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Numbers of people accessing collecting institutions from different demographic groups, notably women, children, older people and persons with disabilities.
Increases in numbers of people accessing collecting institutions from different demographic groups.
Measures taken to remove barriers to access green and public spaces.
Extent of green space provided by collections institutions.
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SDG 16.6: Develop Effective Accountable and Transparent Institutions
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of the population [audience/users/non-users] satisfied with their last experience of public services.
Access to information, and accountability policies and mechanisms, in place.
Effective institutional arrangements, both for own working and for working in partnership with other sectors, in place.
Plans and arrangements in place for extraordinary circumstances such as natural and human-caused disasters.
Effective arrangements in place to fulfil legal and social obligations and responsibilities.
Effective arrangements in place for transparent communication and reporting of institutional performance.
Effective arrangements in place for transparent decision-making and accountability.
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SDG 16.10: Ensure Public Access to Information and Protect Fundamental Freedoms
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Adopt and implement constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information.
Plans in place, and plans implemented to enhance public access to information relating to collections.
Plans in place, and plans implemented to support fundamental freedoms, in line with human rights, national and international agreements and legislation.
Plans and procedures in place for public access to information relating to the operation and management of collections-based institutions.
Complaint mechanism in place for public to use where public access to information and fundamental freedoms not supported or fulfilled.
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SDG 16.B: Promote and Enforce Non-Discriminatory Laws and Policies
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of population [audience/users/non-users] reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.
Number and proportion of policies that incorporate sustainable development considerations, in the full sense of recognizing all three of social, economic and environmental considerations.
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