Collections as Data: Part to Whole — Lessons Learned and Next Steps

From 2019 to 2021, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation supported Collections as Data: Part to Whole, which programmatically and financially supported 12 different institutional projects (public and private R1 universities, museums, small historical societies, and liberal arts colleges) focused on the development of models that drive implementation and responsible computational use of collections as data. The diversity of institutional types supported by Collections as Data: Part to Whole was intentional, as the project aims to support development of multiple paths into collections as data work attuned to the reality of variable institutional resources, goals, and community responsibilities. These efforts held in common a focus on sustainability; interprofessional and interdisciplinary collaboration (e.g., administration, public services, repository development, disciplinary stakeholders, community stakeholders); and actions taken to ensure responsible computational engagement with cultural heritage collections (text, audio, moving image, metadata, image, geospatial). Project investigators will report on lessons learned and set the stage for the next community engagement: an international summit and working meeting in summer 2022 that will bring together collections as data stakeholders on a global level to chart future initiatives.