Opening up our Heritage: Opportunities in Digitising and Promoting Cultural and Research Collections

How can heritage institutions reconcile the duty to preserve fragile historical collections with the growing demand for open, digital access? This book explores that question through the lens of a European Erasmus Staff Training week, where librarians, curators, project managers, and researchers met to examine the challenges and opportunities of digitising and promoting cultural and research heritage.
Opening up our Heritage offers a rich overview of current practices, institutional strategies, and collaborative projects that bring rare books, scientific instruments, photographs, and local archives into the digital age. With case studies drawn from across Europe, the Americas, and South Africa, the book highlights how technology can both safeguard and activate collections—ensuring their transmission to future generations while engaging new audiences today.
Structured in four thematic parts—Preservation and Digitisation; Data Structuring and Connectivity; Promotion and Showcasing; and Community Engagement—it captures the diversity of approaches and shared ambitions in the cultural heritage sector.
A timely and practical resource for professionals and academics alike, this volume sheds light on the dynamic intersection of heritage preservation, digital innovation, and public engagement.