See the original post on the Council on Library and Information Science News.
[Alexandria, VA, July 10, 2024] — The Council on Library and Information Resources’ Digital Library Federation is pleased to announce that its Born-Digital Access Working Group (BDAWG) has been awarded a Strategic Growth Grant from the Society of American Archivists Foundation. This prestigious grant will support the efforts of BDAWG, specifically its Visioning Access Systems subgroup, in the project titled “AI is for Access: An Investigation of AI Adoption.”
The grant is administered by CLIR, which acts as the fiscal sponsor for this important initiative.
The goal of “AI for Access” is to investigate how members of the U.S. archival community are utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools to enhance access to digital archival materials. The study will delve into the adoption and implementation of these advanced technologies within archival practices, ultimately seeking to improve the accessibility and usability of digital archives.
In recent years, the exponential growth of digital content has inundated archival institutions with an unprecedented volume of materials, posing significant challenges in organization and accessibility. Traditional manual methods, once sufficient, now struggle to cope with the sheer scale and complexity of these digital archives.
Recognizing this pressing issue, the project aims to explore the transformative potential of AI and ML tools within the archival community. By delving into how these advanced technologies are being utilized, the study seeks to uncover innovative approaches to enhance access to digital archival materials. Through the integration of AI and ML tools, archival institutions can improve their archival management strategies, making their materials more discoverable, searchable, and comprehensible to a diverse audience. At its core, the project seeks to bridge the gap between the vast repositories of digital content and the individuals and communities who seek to engage with them. By leveraging the power of AI and ML, archival institutions can ensure the long-term preservation and accessibility of cultural heritage, safeguarding invaluable materials for generations to come.
As a profession, archival workers are working in an exciting time, at the intersection of two technological developments that are largely changing the ways in which we work. The increase in born digital collections and the emergence of AI technologies create a space for archival workers to be innovative and forward thinking.
The project group recognizes this unique moment and the fact that accessing born-digital collections remains for many a difficult task (see DLF VAS report). The group is interested in how archival workers are approaching AI, or if not, to identify the barriers to its use. Through this research project, “AI is for Access,” we hope that archives practitioners will be able to advocate for the institutional adoption of AI tools in archival settings and to discuss where there are areas of concern. The group also hopes to demystify AI usage within archives, addressing concerns related to its adoption, and increasing awareness of available resources. Additionally, the group hopes to contribute valuable insights to SAA’s advocacy efforts, particularly in crafting AI protections for archival work and labor, says Steven Gentry, on behalf of the project team.
A critical component of the project is an archives community survey which is scheduled to be announced and circulated in September of 2024. The survey investigates how US archival workers are currently using artificial intelligence to facilitate access to born-digital archival material. The goal is to better understand the extent to which archival workers are adopting artificial intelligence as well as to identify the reasons why they may not be engaging with AI. Insight from survey results will contribute to our collective understanding of how archival workers are utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) in providing access to born-digital collections and facilitate future research efforts by identifying potential gaps and opportunities in the field as it relates to artificial intelligence.
The Society of American Archivists represents over 6,200 professional archivists across various sectors, including government, academia, business, libraries, and historical organizations nationwide. The SAA Foundation is dedicated to supporting archivists and archives by providing essential resources to the archival community. Each year, the SAA Foundation Board awards grants that align with the mission and strategic priorities of the Society of American Archivists.
As the leading nonprofit funding source dedicated to the interests of archives and archivists in the United States, the SAA Foundation’s Strategic Growth Fund supports numerous initiatives, including professional and public education, publications, research, the SAA Awards Program, and the general operations of the SAA Foundation.
The group encourages all US archival workers to look out for the survey announcement in September and invites you to participate, whether you are actively using AI or not. For more information, please visit the News space on the DLF website for project updates.
Contact:
Jennifer Ferretti
Director, Digital Library Federation
