A Holistic Perspective on Indigenous Digital Libraries in Taiwan

Shu-jiun Chen

Academia Sinica Digital Center, Taipei, Taiwan

IFLA 2014 Lyon, France

Introduction

• Taiwan e-Learning & Digital Archives Program (TELDAP)

1582＋ Projects across libraries,

archives, museums, academic

institutions, government,

agencies, etc.

participating.

5.17+million

of digital objects created,

ranging from arts and

humanities, history, social

sciences to life sciences.

751＋

Databases/Websites

120,000 Indigenous Digital Objects

162＋ Indigenous Digital Projects 30＋ Indigenous Databases

Austronesian languages Taiwan: Birthplace of Austronesian Languages

.

Officially Recognized 16 Aboriginal Groups in Taiwan

Research Methods

• Data Collection

– 50 indigenous-related projects in the TELDAP • Project’s Publications (on

their developments & achieved results)

• Project’s databases & websites

• Data Analysis

– Content Analysis as the research method

• Conceptual Framework

Engagement

Infrastructure

Aggregation

Activation

Transformation

Connection

Research Findings

• Typologies of Indigenous Digital Projects in Taiwan – 3 Types, 12 Subtypes

• 3 Models of the Indigenous Community Engagement

• The Characteristics of Digital Collection Development

• The Metadata Interoperability of Digital Collections

• Four Approaches to Access the Indigenous Digital Library

Research Findings

Typologies of Indigenous Digital Projects in Taiwan

Types Subtypes

A. Digitization A1 Existed Cultural Heritage

A2 Cultural Heritage (occurred instantly)

B. Creative Reuse

B1 Education & Outreach

B2 Game Applications

B3 Comics & Animations

B4 Thematic Websites/Online Curation

B5 Video & Films

B6 Productions for Business

C. Core Mechanism

C1 IPR & Open Access

C2 Standards &Union Catalogue

C3 Digital Preservation

C4 Digital Archives Systems

Typologies of Indigenous Digital Projects in Taiwan Type A Digitization / A1 Existed Cultural Heritage Make an Inventory of To-Be-Digitized Objects

Typologies of Indigenous Digital Projects in Taiwan Type A Digitization / A1 Existed Cultural Heritage Check the Conditions of the Object

Typologies of Indigenous Digital Projects in Taiwan Type A Digitization / A1 Existed Cultural Heritage Equipment Ready to Maintain the To-Be-Digitized Object

Typologies of Indigenous Digital Projects in Taiwan Type A Digitization / A1 Existed Cultural Heritage Objects and Photography Equipment Preparation

Typologies of Indigenous Digital Projects in Taiwan Type A Digitization / A1 Existed Cultural Heritage Measurement and Recording of the Object

Typologies of Indigenous Digital Projects in Taiwan Type A Digitization / A1 Existed Cultural Heritage Measurement and Recording of the Object

Typologies of Indigenous Digital Projects in Taiwan Type A Digitization / A1 Existed Cultural Heritage Color Management

Typologies of Indigenous Digital Projects in Taiwan Type A Digitization / A1 Existed Cultural Heritage Image Stitching for Oversize Objects

Typologies of Indigenous Digital Projects in Taiwan Type A Digitization / A1 Existed Cultural Heritage Metadata and the Database/Website Establishment

The Adventure into Taiwan Indigenous Handicrafts http://digitalarchives.tw/Theme/Aboriginal/Handicraft/index.jsp

Typologies of Indigenous Digital Projects in Taiwan B. Creative Reuse / B2 Game Applications

Typologies of Indigenous Digital Projects in Taiwan B. Creative Reuse / B6 Productions for Business

IPR Issues

• Protection for the Traditional Intellectual Creations of Indigenous Peoples – Towards an Indigenous Public

Domain – Reconstructing Indigenous Sui

Generis: interpreting the new Protection Act for the Traditional Intellectual Creations of Indigenous Peoples

– Fair Use of Indigenous Intellectual Creations of Indigenous Peoples

– Critical Issues of the Protection of Indigenous Cultural Creations: A Case Study on Atayal Dye and Weave Culture

Right Clearance Procedures

Typologies of Indigenous Digital Projects in Taiwan C. Core Mechanism / C1 IPR & Open Access

Type C Core Mechanism

C1 IPR & Open Access C2 Standards &Union Catalogue C3 Digital Preservation C4 Digital Archives Systems

Research Findings

Three Models of the Indigenous Community Engagement Models

Project PIs Indigenous

Communities

Model A the project plays an active role, while the

indigenous community passively

participates

Active

Passive

Model B the indigenous community plays an active

role, while the project is passive

Passive

Active

Model C the indigenous community and the

project plan and participate together

Collaboration

Research Findings

The Characteristics of Digital Collection Development

Major Data Types of Indigenous Digital Libraries

Data Types

Subtypes

image photos, films, slides, church murals, maps, collection routes, mapping manuscripts

moving image

documentaries

text books, documents, magazines, bibliographies, contracts, manuscripts, jokes

sound radio programs, songs, recordings of oral history, music

interactive resource

thematic websites, e-books, internet platforms

collection local teaching materials

dataset corpora, Geographic Information System for Language Distribution, dictionary, Ontology

object costumes, life tools, religious and ceremonial objects

Taiwan Indigenous Cultural Artifacts and Image Data scattered overseas

Overseas Institution Major Source Content

Department of Ethnological, British Museum

those pioneer travelers, consolers, or missionaries who arrived in Taiwan around the second half of the 19th century and became famous figures in the field of Taiwanese history

a great international exhibition-- Japan-British Exhibition -- held in Shepard’s Bush, White City, London in 1910.

400 Indigenous artifacts

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA), Cambridge University

musicians, botanists, novelists, anthropologists

171 Indigenous artifacts; 57 images (photos, poster cards)

Pitt Rivers Museum (PRM), Oxford University

engineers, anthropologists, photographers, teachers, missionaries

108 Indigenous artifacts; 56 images (photos, poster cards)

Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

Mainly collected by Rev. George Leslie Mackay. (the very first missionary in North Taiwan )

136 anthropological specimens, 200 textile artifacts; 300 statues of gods.

America Museum of Natural History (AMNH)

anthropologists, diplomats, explorers

500 ethnographic specimens (textiles, wood carvings, statues and woven baskets)

University of Michigan Museum of Anthropology (UMMA)

anthropologists 80 ethnographic specimens

Rattan Headdress with Hair Decoration A.D. 1915 人髮垂飾籐編冠

Cigars A.D. 1915 煙卷束 Small Broom Used for Expelling Evil A.D. 1915 除惡靈用小掃帚

Carnelian and Shell Bracelet A.D. 1915 瑪瑙珠串腕飾

Bamboo Pipe A.D. 1943 竹管煙斗

Reed Vest A.D. 1943 蘆葦管編鏤空背心

Match Boxes With Herbs, Plants, and Mineral A.D. 1915 217件火柴盒，內裝中藥、植 物、礦石標本

Farewell Banner for Rev. Mackay A.D. 1915 歡送馬偕旗幟

Long Upper Garment with Sleeves A.D. 1915 有袖織花長衣

Collected by Rev. George Leslie Mackay, the very first missionary stationed in Tamshui of Taiwan

Digitization of Cultural Heritage Scattered Overseas

Research Findings

Four Approaches to Access the Indigenous Digital Library

Approaches Features

1. Portals

Collection-level digital materials

2. Union Catalogues

Item-level digital materials

3. Thematic Websites

Various focuses of indigenous digital libraries

4. Value-added Applications

Creative reuse of digital materials

The Union Catalogues Access to 120,000 Item-level digital materials

Research Findings

Four Approaches to Access the Indigenous Digital Library

Value-added Applications Approach

Features

Creative reuse of digital materials

Conclusion

• Outcomes of the digitization Projects under the Taiwan e-Learning & Digital Archives Program in the past 10 years.

• The study has identified: – Typologies of Indigenous digital projects

– Models of the indigenous community engagement

– Approaches to access the indigenous digital library

• A regional depth exploration of Taiwan indigenous digital libraries using systematic approach

• Help establishing and linking a more comprehensive global indigenous digital library

Thanks for your Attention