Sample interview questions: How do you ensure the discoverability and accessibility of digitized manuscripts or archival materials?
Sample answer:
To ensure the discoverability and accessibility of digitized manuscripts or archival materials, as a Digital Services Librarian, I employ a comprehensive approach that encompasses various strategies and best practices.
Firstly, I focus on creating high-quality metadata for each digitized manuscript or archival item. Metadata, which includes information such as title, author, date, subject, and keywords, helps users discover and locate specific materials. I carefully curate and standardize this information, adhering to established metadata standards such as Dublin Core, MODS, or EAD, depending on the type of material being digitized. By consistently applying these standards, I ensure that the digitized materials can be easily discovered through search engines, library catalogs, and other discovery tools.
To enhance the discoverability of digitized materials, I also collaborate with other departments and institutions to establish partnerships and participate in shared data initiatives. By contributing digitized materials to national or international platforms like the Digital Public Library of America or Europeana, I increase the visibility and accessibility of our collections. Additionally, I actively engage in professional networks and leverage social media platforms to promote our digital collections, ensuring that they reach a wider audience.
Consideration for accessibility is paramount in providing equal access to all users. I adhere to accessibility standards such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) to ensure that digitized manuscripts and archival materials can be accessed by individuals with disabilities. This involves providing alternative text for images, captions for videos, transcripts for audio files, and ensuring proper keyboard navigation and color con… Read full answer
Source: https://hireabo.com/job/18_0_7/Digital%20Services%20Librarian