“Open Sciences in Public Libraries: Let (Digital) Humanities Come In!” Workshop

Abstract

The IFLA’s Statement on Libraries and Sustainable Development advocated that “library and information services promote sustainable development by ensuring freedom of access to information”, and that “library and information professionals acknowledge the importance of education in various forms for all” (IFLA, 2002).

We would like to explore this political aspect of sustainable development, specifically regarding the difficulties to spread academic knowledge among non-specialists, although many seem keen on learning more, especially on humanities. We feel that it is a crucial issue for public libraries whose main purpose is to provide access to information to all.

Therefore, we propose a workshop to think this problem over and consider how libraries can partake in the diffusion of digital humanities resources to the best of their abilities and raise awareness of the multiplicity of riches at hand.