Research

Research areas

Six research areas from digitization to provenance, preservation, and access.

Digitization & imaging

High-fidelity 2D and 3D capture of manuscripts, objects, and sites.

Digital preservation

Formats, metadata, and storage strategies for long-term readability.

Metadata & interoperability

Standards like IIIF that let collections connect and travel across systems.

Access & engagement

Interfaces and programs that bring collections to researchers and the public.

Provenance & ethics

Documenting origin, rights, and community context for responsible sharing.

Heritage & computation

Careful use of search, computer vision, and AI on cultural collections.

Centers & labs

Where the work happens

Our centers convene researchers, fellows, and practitioners around shared methods and long-term questions.

Digitization Studio

Imaging, 3D capture, and reproduction methods for fragile materials.

Digital Preservation Lab

Format, metadata, and storage research for long-term access.

Access & Interfaces Group

Public interfaces, exhibitions, and engagement with collections.

Provenance & Ethics Program

Rights, provenance, and community-centered documentation.

Our approach

We start from the collection and its community. The right digitization and access choices depend on the material, its condition, its rights, and the people it matters to.

We build for the long term, choosing formats, metadata, and storage that will keep collections readable and trustworthy far beyond any single project.

External references

Public datasets, standards, and organizations relevant to our fields.

Reference

Europeana

Open access to Europe’s digitized cultural heritage.

www.europeana.eu

Reference

Getty

Research and standards for art and cultural heritage.

www.getty.edu

Reference

Internet Archive

A large open digital library and preservation project.

archive.org

These are independent, third-party resources provided for context and further reading. Links do not imply any affiliation, partnership, or endorsement.

Collaborate with us

We partner with researchers, practitioners, and civic organizations on applied projects.