Developing a Framework for Digital Cultural Heritage Curation in Libraries

Thesis Abstract

The rapid digitization of cultural artifacts and increasing demand for accessible, interoperable digital heritage within libraries compels a systematic framework to govern digital cultural heritage curation, ensuring long-term preservation, discoverability, and ethical stewardship. This study addresses the persistent fragmentation of curatorial practices across libraries, archivists, and museums, which impedes consistent metadata schemas, preservation workflows, and user-centered access. The aim is to develop a robust framework for digital cultural heritage curation in libraries that integrates preservation, metadata interoperability, content authentication, rights management, user access, and community engagement. Specific objectives are (1) to identify core dimensions of digital cultural heritage curation through a synthesis of preservation science, information governance, and user experience theory; (2) to formulate a conceptual framework that integrates metadata standards (e.g., Dublin Core, PREMIS, and IIIF), authentic digital provenance, and access policies; (3) to validate the framework with empirical data from library practitioners and stakeholders; (4) to evaluate the framework’s impact on discovery, usability, and preservation risk assessment; and (5) to develop implementation guidelines and a maturity model for libraries adopting the framework. The study adopts a mixed-methods design, anchored in interpretivist ontology and a pragmatist epistemology. The population comprises library professionals, digital curators, and information science scholars involved in digital heritage projects across five national libraries and university archives. A purposive sample of 60 practitioners is selected for qualitative inquiry, with 30 participants representing diverse roles, institutions, and geographic regions engaged in interviews and focus groups. Quantitative validation draws on a survey administered to 200 digital heritage stakeholders to capture perceptions of current practices, interoperability readiness, and perceived framework utility. Data collection instruments include semi-structured interview guides, focus group protocols, and a validated digital heritage governance survey incorporating scales for metadata quality, provenance integrity, access equity, and preservation risk. Instrument validity is enhanced through expert panel review and pilot testing with 20 participants; reliability is assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and inter-rater reliability for coding of qualitative data. Qualitative data will be analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns in curation practices, governance challenges, and user needs, supplemented by citation network analysis to map metadata interoperability links. Quantitative data will be analyzed via descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis to identify latent constructs of curation capability, and regression modeling to examine relationships between governance maturity, metadata interoperability, and user access outcomes. A convergent mixed-methods design will integrate findings to iteratively refine the proposed framework. The theoretical underpinning draws on Information Governance Theory, the PREMIS metadata model for preservation provenance, and Activity Theory to interpret user interactions with digital heritage workflows. Expected findings include (a) a set of core dimensional units for digital cultural heritage curation—preservation planning, provenance and authenticity, metadata interoperability, rights and access governance, user-centric access design, and community-based engagement; (b) a validated framework that maps these dimensions to concrete processes, roles, and decision points within libraries; (c) empirical evidence of improved metadata quality, reduced preservation risk, and enhanced user discoverability following pilot implementations in two libraries; and (d) a maturity model with five stages to guide progressive adoption and scaling. The study contributes to knowledge by operationalizing an integrative framework that harmonizes preservation science, metadata interoperability, and user-centered access within library practice, addressing a gap in systematic, theory-informed governance for digital cultural heritage. It offers practical implementation guidelines, accompanied by a maturity model and measurable outcomes to benchmark progress over time. The main conclusion anticipates that a formally codified framework improves long-term preservation, enhances cross-institution interoperability, and elevates user engagement with digital collections. Recommendations include policy development for rights management, investment in interoperable metadata infrastructures, ongoing professional development for digital curators, and iterative piloting across diverse library contexts to refine governance mechanisms and ensure scalability.