Launching a library digital humanities center: reflections and lessons learned

This article was originally published in October 2019.

In January 2018, San Diego State University (SDSU) Library officially opened its Digital Humanities Center(opens in new tab/window) (DHC). This space was created in collaboration with the campus-wide Digital Humanities Initiative, DH@(opens in new tab/window)SDSU(opens in new tab/window), which began as a grass-roots, faculty-led, interdisciplinary community and is now a formalized effort that includes a faculty research cluster. As a partner in the growth of digital humanities (DH), the library committed resources to build a DH space under the leadership of the new digital humanities librarian. Since opening, the DHC has become an interdisciplinary hub that brings people together in support of humanistic research, teaching, and learning in the digital age.

We intentionally adopted a minimalist design for the center, envisioning a blank canvas that would invite imaginative uses. We wanted it to be flexible and reconfigurable, so that it could evolve alongside DH@SDSU. In fall 2018, we launched a second design round for a virtual reality production studio (in partnership with SDSU’s School of Theatre, Television and Film), a podcasting studio, an electronic literature studio, and an active learning room for instruction, workshops and ongoing project work. This phased approach ensured the strategic stewardship of one-time funds and resulted in a user-centered space that adapts to a range of needs.

A programmatic service model

Unlike many library-based digital scholarship centers, SDSU’s DHC does not provide formal services such as equipment checkout; digitization, digital collection management and digital preservation; data curation, management, analysis and visualization; or 3D modeling and printing (Vinopal & McCormick, 2013; Mackenzie, 2016; Anne, et al., 2017). Rather, it supports human relationships and community through programmatic partnerships (Muñoz, 2012 and 2013; Vandegrift and Varner, 2013; Posner, 2013 and 2014; Shirazi, 2014; Schell, 2015; Miller, 2016). To signal this service shift—within the library and to our users—we removed the Media Center’s service desk during the renovation. Dismantling the desk was a visual cue that the DHC was not a place to do things for patrons, but a space to partner with users.

Our programmatic service model continues to evolve and mature as we test out approaches. When we opened, we organized one-off activities and co-hosted events, many of which were not explicitly DH in nature. In those early days, our usage request policy was quite loose because we hoped to attract broad disciplinary engagement. We refined our policy in summer 2018; we now require public events in the space to have a direct link to DH. In spring 2019, we developed a more coherent set of programs organized around four tracks: creative workshops, DH tools workshops, lecture series, and research & development activities.

With these early successes came many challenges, both within the library and across campus. Although library administration committed two full-time employees for the DHC, we struggled to hire and retain people in those positions, which hampered operations and capacity despite efforts at cross-training. Secondly, the introduction of a programmatic service model distinct from other library service points, coupled with physical isolation from other service desks, led to confusion about where the DHC should fit organizationally. A general lack of understanding about DH on campus and in the library compounded these issues, despite regular efforts to make our work legible. Our service model combined with our physical layout still confuses many users who enter the space. Thirdly, the departmental partnerships so central to DH@SDSU and the DHC further set us apart from library spaces controlled by other units (such as the Writing Center or the Math and Stats Learning Center). Moreover, these crucial partnerships potentially expose us to space grabs. It has been challenging to continue growing broad appeal and buy-in across campus while balancing competing interests and needs, especially as the library tries to increase general study spaces for students. The continued success of the DHC depends on the success of the various partnerships that went into creating the center, partnerships that will have to be rebuilt after recent administrative turnover.

Lessons learned

The most important lesson learned in the first few years of operation is the importance of maintaining buy-in with internal and external partners. This requires constant attention and cultivation to make sure a diverse range of perspectives are at the table, genuinely heard, and validated as compromises are made. Threats to long-term capacity and sustainability can be mitigated by creating partnerships that grow distributed expertise, cross-training within the library, and investing in the people responsible for growing community (Posner, 2014). Equally important, the space—as much as the services—needs to be user-centered and designed to meet its institutional context while being responsive and adaptable to changing user needs (Goldenberg-Hart, 2016).

In short, space matters when building and sustaining community (Lewis, et al., 2015; Dinsman, 2016). DH@SDSU would continue to grow without the DHC. But the DHC makes it possible for faculty and students to get out of their silos, connect with each other, build capacity, and imagine new possibilities.

Acknowledgment

This article was adapted from a poster delivered at ACRL 2019: Pamella R. Lach, “Launching a Library Digital Humanities Center: Reflections and Lessons Learned in the First Year” Association of College and Research Libraries 2019 iPoster Session, Cleveland, OH, April 10-13, 2019.

References

Anne, K. M., et al. (2017). Building capacity for digital humanities: a framework for institutional planning. ECAR working group paper. Louisville, CO: ECAR, May 31, 2017. Retrieved from https://library.educause.edu/resources/2017/5/building-capacity-for-digital-humanities-a-framework-for-institutional-planning(opens in new tab/window)