Announcing the 2024 DPASSH Conference: Collections as data / Data as collections

The Digital Repository of Ireland (DRI) is delighted to announce that our DPASSH conference will be held in Limerick City, Ireland on 27-28th June 2024. The event will be co-hosted by the University of Limerick and the Hunt Museum with the theme of Collections as Data / Data as Collections. Interested participants and sponsors can view more information about the conference theme and the call for papers on the conference website.

Collections as Data / Data as Collections comes from the idea that digital information about collections (including, but not limited to: metadata records, digital files, software, code and other digital documentation) can serve as data for computationally-driven research enquiries. 

We envision this conference as an opportunity for a reciprocal voice in the Collections as Data movement, acknowledging that the evolving principles guiding this field of work call for participatory design, and prioritise social as well as technical interoperability.

Chair of the organising committee and DRI’s Training and Engagement Manager Lorraine Marrey said:

The Digital Repository of Ireland are thrilled to be bringing the DPASSH conference to Limerick this June and to be collaborating with The Glucksman Library at the University of Limerick and The Hunt Museum. We look forward to delivering an exciting programme packed with engaging talks and workshops.

About this exciting joint collaboration, Karen Wilson, Head of Collections & Interpretation at the Hunt Museum said:

The Hunt Museum was one of the first Irish museums to digitise a large part of our collection and make it available in the public domain. Preserving collections as data has facilitated the use of our collections by researchers and artists across many platforms. We are strong advocates for opening up collections to create collaboration in research, creative industry and other sectors and we are very happy to be partnering and learning from this conference.

Caleb Derven, Head of Digital Scholarship and Systems at the University of Limerick said:

The Glucksman Library at the University of Limerick is delighted to partner with the DRI and the Hunt Museum to explore how to make digital collections more computationally tractable and discoverable at UL’s state-of-the-art campus and world-class library in Castletroy.

We invite all interested participants and prospective sponsors to view the conference call for papers or reach out to the organising team dpassh2024@gmail.com for more information.