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Constructing Data

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Constructing a dataset, as Trevor Owens of the Library of Congress explains, "requires choices about what and how to collect and how to encode the information" [1]. 
 

How and What to Collect


How to Encode Information

For digital collections, object metadata is frequently encoded in relational databases.  A relational database is a structured set of data that contains a series of formally described tables from which data can be queried or organized in different ways. This structure enhances searching, browsing, and exhibition functions by enabling users to access items and reassemble collections based on tabular information.
To create a digital collection with these enhanced functions, you can either build a custom database or use a digital publishing platform that functions as a relational database, such as Wordpress, Omeka, Scalar, and CollectiveAccess [2].  While a custom database allows for greater customization and processing opportunities, using a digital platform requires less backend labor and streamlines the construction process by ingesting data in a way that can be immediately displayed to the public. 


 

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  1. Data for Humanists Andrea Davis

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