Archival Resources on the Web

Becoming a Citizen Archivist: Crowdsourcing Projects

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Abstract

Libraries, archives, and museums have always opened their doors to volunteers, but new platforms offered over the Internet now make it possible for institutions to harness the expertise and enthusiasm of the crowd to tag, transcribe, geolocate, label, and identify collection items. Above and beyond providing the ability to find free assistance from remote volunteers, crowdsourcing portals enable the creation of loyal, engaged, and collaborative communities and build a sense of “public ownership” and connection.1 Some of the nation’s largest institutions have embraced crowdsourcing as part of a new ethos for connecting with volunteers and integrating user-generated content.

How to Cite:

Theisen, C., (2013) “Becoming a Citizen Archivist: Crowdsourcing Projects”, MAC Newsletter 41(2), 13-14.