LIBER-legographic_final


Forming relationships 

in Digital Humanities

Building blocks for libraries

Digital Humanities (DH) is a collaborative discipline. Libraries engaging in this field must build 

connections with DH research communities to be successful. Our below illustration demonstrates  

10 ways in which libraries can build such relationships and points to various useful readings on this topic.

MIND YOUR LANGUAGE

Language is key in articulating the library’s role. 
Expertise such as metadata can and should be 

reframed for a DH context. Job titles and strategy 
documents also help position library offerings.

Read: Cox

FIND YOUR LEVEL

Tailor your approach to the stage of DH development 
your library is at. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. 
Look for incremental steps to progress in a sustainable 
way. 

Read: RLUK, LSE

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

An environmental scan helps identify your local 
DH landscape and its focus areas. Knowing 
strengths and gaps can inform library strategy.
It also can act as a useful ice-breaker with faculty.

Read: ECAR

BE A TRANSLATOR

Librarians’ work with digital collections requires 
understanding both intellectual and technical 
aspects. This in turn equips them to act as DH 
‘translators’ between research and technical partners.

Read: Star & Griesemer

BE LOUD, BE BOLD

Overcome “library timidity” and broadcast the library’s 
expertise as an enabler of digital scholarship and a go-to 
for digital research projects. Be specific about offerings 

and expertise.

Read: Vandegrift & Varner

WIN FRIENDS & INFLUENCE FACULTY

Use any existing links with DH researchers as demonstrator 
projects or partnerships. This helps momentum and 
advocacy particularly if broader engagement is an early 
stumbling block. 

Read: Gerber et. al

PLAY WITH STRUCTURES

Different models of structured collaboration - such 
as DH fellows in the library or ‘embedded’ librarians 
working on faculty projects – can enable 
a more formalised approach.

Read:  Wilson & Berg, Locke & Mapes (8)

PARTNERSHIP 

VS SERVICE

How is this DH collaboration 
framed? Is the library a partner 

or service? Local context can 
inform here. In some cases 

library collaboration itself is 
listed as a ‘service’ offered for 

digital projects.

Read: Muñoz, Dinsman

HELP FROM ABOVE

Strategic commitment is vital for long 
term sustainability. Adequate 

resourcing for aspects of advocacy, 
research, skills development along 

with acknowledgement of new 
measures of success.

Read: Posner

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Find external library colleagues. Working or technical groups (e.g. 
LIBER WGs, Carpentries) can offer shared expertise and augment 
teaching. RSE offers an ‘alt-ac’ parallel here.

Read: RSE

Full references  with links 

can be found here:

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This poster came out of a group discussion of the Building Relationships 

sub-team of the LIBER Digital Humanities Working Group.

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