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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 collection with this functionality, you can either begin by building a custom database or selecting 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 facilitates rapid public display. 

Before building a database or selecting a platform, you will want to develop a metadata schema for your collection. Metadata, which is often described as 'data about data,' "provides a means of indexing, accessing, preserving, and discovering digital resources" [3]. While archivists and curators may use metadata to perform a multitude of functions related to a collection's administration and use, digital humanists are generally interested in collecting descriptive metadata.  




 

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  1. Data for Humanists Andrea Davis

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