UNC’s School of Information and Library Science (SILS) is collaborating with the Humanities Advanced Technology and Information Institute (HATII), the University of Glasgow, Fondren Library at Rice University and Duke University’s libraries to present “Digitization for Cultural Heritage Professionals” (DCHP). This year’s program will be held May 11-16 at SILS, with a day at Duke University’s Perkins Library.

DCHP is a series of international workshops helping cultural heritage information professionals bring digitization projects to their repositories. The weeklong workshop will benefit professionals and academics working in the cultural and heritage sectors, such as archives, libraries and museums. DCHP builds on the success of the Glasgow Digitization Summer Schools, which were held from 1998-2002.

The course will consist of 15 lectures, two interactive sessions, five lab-based practicals and two special collections visits, one to the special collections department at UNC’s Wilson Library and one to Perkins Library. The teaching team includes Dr. Seamus Ross and Dr. Ian Anderson, both of HATII; Dr. Helen Tibbo, associate professor at SILS; Dr. Paul Conway from Duke; Dr. Lisa Spiro from Fondren Library; and Steven Weiss from Wilson Library at UNC.

"I attended the first DCHP program held in the U.S. at Rice University in 2000 as a participant. It was one of the best learning experiences I've had and I am so pleased that we have been able to bring it to SILS,” said Tibbo. “Drs. Ross and Anderson are top-notch and have delivered this program around the world. I look forward to meeting all the participants and having a wonderful week together in May."

DCHP delivers skills, principles and best practices in the digitization of primary textual and image resources with a strong emphasis on interactive seminars and practical exercises. Participants will examine the advantages of developing digital collections of heritage materials and investigate issues involved in creating, curating and managing access to such collections.

The School of Information and Library Science is home to approximately 247 master's degree students, six certificate of advanced study students, 44 doctoral students, 17 undergraduate majors, 67 minors and 20 full-time faculty members. The school offers master's degrees in information science and library science, a certificate of advanced study, a doctor of philosophy in information and library science and an undergraduate minor in information systems. A new major in information science was introduced last fall.