The Know-How and the Know-What: Reflections on the Intersection of Library Science Education and Digital Humanities Initiatives

Joseph Koivisto (University of Maryland)

Project-based learning, tool-oriented workshops, and graduate assistantships are frequently upheld as a practical approach to integrating LIS graduate students in digital humanities research, but to what degree do these practices prepare students for critical DH engagement? Reflecting on the recent completion of graduate coursework at the Catholic University of America’s MSLIS program, this presentation will provide a personal narrative of library professional education specifically tailored to address areas relevant to the digital humanities: cultural heritage preservation and digital libraries systems and management. By additionally addressing participation in early-stage digital humanities initiatives, the presentation will critically evaluate the relevance of digitally-oriented coursework to actual readiness to support interdisciplinary research in team-based settings. Lastly, the presentation will provide a critical assessment of labor inherent in student participation in project-based learning, crowdsourcing, and research models that integrate graduate labor – paid or otherwise – into the production of digital scholarly work.

Joseph Koivisto is a systems librarian at the University of Maryland, servicing the USMAI consortium institutions. He received his B.A. in English in 2009 (U. of Scranton) and an MSLIS in 2014 (CUA). His research focuses on the application of library science practices in DH settings, controlled vocabulary & authority development, and cultural heritage management. He was worked with the DC Public Libraries, the Catholic University of America, and the Library of Congress.