INFO5841 Final Paper Proposal
1. Your working title:
Crowdsourcing our Archives: The Past and Present
2. A brief description of the digital curation topic that you intend to explore (e.g., why
you think the topic is important – at least 150 words)
For my final paper I decided to discuss the history, benefits, and challenges of
crowdsourcing and participatory archives. The term “crowdsourcing” seems new
and brings to mind current social media trends and web pages. However, using
the public as a resource for ideas and information has been around for centuries.
For this paper, I wanted to outline examples of institutions that have relied on
crowdsourcing in the past. I think discussing the history of crowdsourcing and
participatory archives would provide a solid basis for information professionals in
the digital age. After discussing how crowdsourcing in archives and institutions
has adapted over time, I plan on comparing its benefits and challenges in the
digital age. I think the topic is important from a marketing and financial
standpoint. Crowdsourcing has the potential to bring awareness to institutions
and save money at the same time. Along with this, community participation can
fill in gaps of previously lost information. With more information comes the
greater potential for discoverability in archives.
But crowdsourcing in cultural heritage is more than a framework for creating content: as
a form of engagement with the collections and research of memory institutions, it
benefits both audiences and institutions.
3. A partial bibliography, including at least 1 source to develop ideas and get an
initial overview of your topic:
Bruno, E. (2011, April 14). Smithsonian crowdsourcing since 1849! Smithsonian
Crowdsourcing Since 1849! Retrieved November 6, 2021, from
https://siarchives.si.edu/blog/smithsonian-crowdsourcing-1849.
Ridge, M. (2017). Crowdsourcing our cultural heritage. Routledge.