Abstract

GALINA RUSSELL, Isabel. The Digitization of Special Collections. The Mexican Case. Relac. Estud. hist. soc. [online]. 2018, vol.39, n.155, pp.135-166. ISSN 2448-7554.  https://doi.org/10.24901/rehs.v39i154.300.

The digitization of special collections is an efficient way of protecting them by offering alternate methods of access and also increases their dissemination. However, the majority of digitized special collections are disperse, difficult to find or unknown as they have little visibility for the potential user and there is little information about the many initiatives that exist. This creates difficulties for developing digital strategies as well as establishing priorities for support and training. The aim of this article is to present the results of a study focusing on libraries and archives in order to create a general diagnose and identify the main obstacles to digitizing special collections in Mexico, through a critical revision of the literature and a survey that looked into information about current and future digitization projects and identifying priority topics for the organizations in charge of these special collections.

Keywords : digitization; Special Collections; digitalized Humanities; digital cultural heritage.