Digital Curation for Librarians and Archivists

6-Week Course starts March 01, 2021

Course Description

Digital curation is the selection, preservation, maintenance, collection, and archiving of digital assets. While there are a variety of resources out there, very few focus on the absolute, complete beginner. This course is aimed at the digital curation novice and is broken down into six sections for an easy grasp on the subject.

1. An introduction to the topic, focusing on defining digitization, digital preservation, digital curation, and their importance.

2. What to include in your digital collections, Creating a digital collection policy.

3. Learning about file formats and file-naming standards.

4. An introduction to metadata. Choosing the metadata standards that are best for your digital collection.

5. Digitization: equipment recommendations and workflows.

6. Creating a digital preservation policy, understanding long-term digital preservation needs.


Learning Objectives

By the end of this course participants should be able to:

  • Understand the differences between digitization, digital preservation, and digital curation
  • Create policies related to digital preservation and collection of digital objects.
  • Recall the principles of creating good digital objects
  • Understand how to record appropriate metadata
  • Utilize workflows and checklists to guide throughout the digital life cycle


Your Instructor


Carmen Cowick
Carmen Cowick

Carmen Cowick provides training, support and consulting services for libraries in the areas of preservation and collections care. She previously worked as a preservation specialist at Amigos Library Services and in the library and archives of The American Irish Historical Society, The Seamen's Church Institute, and the Special Collections department at CUNY Queens College. She received a bachelor's degree in art history and a master's degree in library science with a certificate in archives and preservation of cultural materials from CUNY Queens College in New York City.

Ms. Cowick has written numerous scholarly articles on preservation-related topics and is the author of the books Digital Curation Projects Made Easy and Crash Course in Disaster Preparedness.


Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
This course starts on March 01, 2021.
It is an asynchronous online course designed to be completed in 6 weeks.
Participants will spend approximately 2 hours each week on viewing lectures, answering quizzes, and completing written assignments.
It is recommended that you complete each week's work within that week to stay in sync with other learners.
When is the last day for enrollment?
Friday, February 26th.
Will the instructor be available for feedback and questions?
Absolutely! Your instructor will provide feedback for each assignment and will be available via email for any questions you may have. A discussion area is also available where participants can post questions.
How long do I have access to the course materials?
You will have unlimited access for three months from the start date of this course.
Will I receive a Certificate of Completion?
In order to receive a Certificate of Completion you must: .
1. View all video lectures .
2. Answer all quizzes .
3. Complete all assignments .
When you complete these three items you can expect to receive you certificate within 2 weeks
I am having trouble enrolling. Help!
We're sorry to hear this. Here are some options:
1. Try enrolling with a different browser or with a different device (laptop, tablet, smart phone, etc.)
2. Email us at [email protected] for an invoice. This will be emailed to you and you can pay through the link provided in the invoice.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 14 days and we will give you a full refund.

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