Digital Humanities Projects on Chinese Canadian Studies

Abstract

This chapter discusses how librarians collaborate with humanities scholars in projects involving the creation and curation of cultural and heritage materials in digital format on Chinese Canadian studies. Libraries, as the “laboratory for the humanities,” have played a significant role in curating printed materials. In the digital era, libraries continue to take up the challenges of facilitating and preserving collections for digital humanities. Information professionals, with training in data curation and analysis methods, can support humanists in the exploration of digitized artefacts, presentation of research findings by digital means and curating the data created for seamless, persistent and long-term access. This paper first reviews the concept of digital humanities, such as its origin, evolution, characteristics, challenges and opportunities. Second, using the digital humanities projects on Chinese Canadian studies that the author coordinates, leads and participates in, the paper provides useful experiences and lessons in developing digital initiative for research in the humanities.