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Digitizing Pacific Cultural Collections: The Australian Experience

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2013

Supriya Singh ,
Meredith Blake  and
Jonathan O'Donnell
Supriya Singh
Affiliation:
Professor, Sociology of Communications, Smart Services Cooperative Research Centre, Graduate School of Business and Law, RMIT University. Email: supriya.singh@rmit.edu.au
Meredith Blake
Affiliation:
Research Fellow, Smart Services Cooperative Research Centre, Graduate School of Business and Law, RMIT University. Email: meredith.blake@rmit.edu.au
Jonathan O'Donnell
Affiliation:
Research Fellow, Smart Services Cooperative Research Centre, Graduate School of Business and Law, RMIT University. Email: jonathan.odonnell@rmit.edu.au
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Abstract

In the absence of specific policies that address the digitization of Pacific cultural collections, it is important to document the practices of Australian museum professionals and cultural experts who deal with close to one-fifth of Pacific cultural objects held in museums. Interviews with 17 museum professionals and cultural experts in Australia help advance reflective practice relating to digitizing Pacific collections. Drawing on principles enshrined in international, regional, and Australian policies and protocols relating to the management of indigenous collections, they favor responsible digitization based on consultation with source and diasporic communities. In order to consult across a region with multiple languages and cultures when time and resources are limited, they begin with areas they know best and when possible, work with curators of Pacific backgrounds. Some practicalities of publishing and protecting digitized images online revolve around validating information about the artifact and going beyond copyright to respect traditional knowledge.

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Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Cultural Property , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , February 2013 , pp. 77 - 107
Copyright
Copyright © International Cultural Property Society 2013

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