Students and the Next Generation Library

Through the Next Generation Library project, students across the Ohio 5 have been given the opportunity to engage with both the technology and issues involved in the construction of digital collections.  Students have grappled with complex theoretical issues of intellectual property while being exposed to new models of scholarly communication and dissemination through the use of Creative Commons copyright licenses.  By collaborating with information professionals in the creation of metadata, students have been exposed to the concepts of information retrieval and how they relate to our increasingly digital world.  In addition, by experimenting with digital tools like Omeka and WordPress the next generation of scholars has discovered a new approach to knowledge production.  Finally, by participating in the construction of OhioLINK Digital Resource Commons collections students also understand the importance of digital preservation and its impact on the long-term sustainability of digital scholarship.  As reflected in this personal narrative, the digital collections created through the Next Generation Library Grant have provided students with both the technological and theoretical confidence to pursue work in the digital humanities.