Abstract
In the digital humanities we specialize in imagining and launching digital projects, but we rarely
consider how to end them. In this paper we propose to discuss the ends of a particular digital
project as a case study for the planning of ending. The project we focus on is the Globalization
and Autonomy Online Compendium that was developed as a digital outcome of the Globalization
and Autonomy project. Specifically, this paper will:
When can a digital scholarly project be considered finally "done"? Perhaps never. Something
done is past, irrevocable, requiring nothing more and indeed immune from further action.
[Brown et al 2009]
Introduction
In the digital humanities we specialize in imagining and launching digital projects, but we rarely consider how to end
them. We imagine that all projects are dynamic and ongoing — taking on a life of their own. Rarely do we admit that some
are moribund, or should be gracefully wound down. We don’t want to think about their ends so we don’t plan endings,
and thus many projects are not properly documented and deposited. This is a shame, especially in a field that has
thought so long and hard about preservation through the digital.
In this paper we propose to discuss the ends of a particular digital project as a case study for the planning of ending. The
project we focus on is the Globalization and Autonomy Online Compendium that was developed as a digital outcome of
the Globalization and Autonomy project.
[1]
Specifically, this paper will:
The Problem of Endings
1. Survey the general issues at stake when planning for the end of a digital project;
2. Provide some background on the project and the Compendium;
3. Discuss the underlying technologies that had to be dealt with;
4.Address the specific problem of ending and how we prepared this project for archival
deposit;
5. And conclude by talking about some other ends that are really beginnings.
consider how to end them. In this paper we propose to discuss the ends of a particular digital
project as a case study for the planning of ending. The project we focus on is the Globalization
and Autonomy Online Compendium that was developed as a digital outcome of the Globalization
and Autonomy project. Specifically, this paper will:
When can a digital scholarly project be considered finally "done"? Perhaps never. Something
done is past, irrevocable, requiring nothing more and indeed immune from further action.
[Brown et al 2009]
Introduction
In the digital humanities we specialize in imagining and launching digital projects, but we rarely consider how to end
them. We imagine that all projects are dynamic and ongoing — taking on a life of their own. Rarely do we admit that some
are moribund, or should be gracefully wound down. We don’t want to think about their ends so we don’t plan endings,
and thus many projects are not properly documented and deposited. This is a shame, especially in a field that has
thought so long and hard about preservation through the digital.
In this paper we propose to discuss the ends of a particular digital project as a case study for the planning of ending. The
project we focus on is the Globalization and Autonomy Online Compendium that was developed as a digital outcome of
the Globalization and Autonomy project.
[1]
Specifically, this paper will:
The Problem of Endings
1. Survey the general issues at stake when planning for the end of a digital project;
2. Provide some background on the project and the Compendium;
3. Discuss the underlying technologies that had to be dealt with;
4.Address the specific problem of ending and how we prepared this project for archival
deposit;
5. And conclude by talking about some other ends that are really beginnings.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Digital Humanities Quarterly |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |
UCC Futures
- Future Humanities Institute
