Digital heritage as Library-Anthropology collaboration

The session will present the ongoing collaboration between Library and Anthropology Department at AUCA focusing on creation of the digital collection of historic papers and audiovisual content, related to Urkun, the Central Asian uprising of 1916.

The session will present the outcomes of the ongoing collaboration between Library and Anthropology Department at AUCA. Earlier two departments worked together to create digital collections of ethnographic papers and archaeological artifacts (supported by AMICAL small grant in 2016). The initial partnership has grown to include other activities where both parties contribute their expertise.

The current collaboration focuses on the curation of the digital exhibit, highlighting the materials related to Urkun, the Central Asian uprising of 1916. The part of the country’s history remained a grey area in the Soviet era, with very limited opportunities to study the anti-colonial movement. Materials collected by students in the frame of a department wide research project, need to be preserved for future use and publicly showcased and curated. Besides discipline specific data collection and analysis, the expertise is needed in visualization and digital assets management. This is where library can extend its support and raise the capacity through gaining experience in digital tools and technologies. We will focus on the planning and implementation of the current project; as well as discuss using digital media for cultural and historical heritage preservation.