Yes! The digitization of collections in U.S. museums and libraries has markedly increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. The need to digitize became more urgent due to the pandemic’s restrictions on physical access to collections and the increased demand for online content as people were confined to their homes.
Below are critical drivers for this increased digitization effort:
- Shift to Virtual Engagement: With the physical closure of institutions, there was a sudden need to shift to virtual engagement to maintain a connection with audiences. This led to an expansion of online galleries, virtual tours, and digital exhibits.
- Growing Demand for Digital Access: As people relied more on the Internet for entertainment, education, and research, museums, and libraries intensified their digitization efforts to meet the increased demand for digital access to their collections.
- Adaptation to New Norms: Institutions began rethinking their service delivery models, recognizing that digital offerings could be a new norm even post-pandemic. This foresight encouraged them to increase their investment in digitization.
- Expansion of Online Programming and Services: Programming, such as educational workshops, lectures, and interactive activities, was transitioned to online platforms. Alongside these, digitized collections became central resources for these programs.
- Improvement in Digital Infrastructure: Many institutions upgraded their digital infrastructures to host better and present their digital collections, which included enhancing online catalogs, databases, and viewing interfaces.
- Increased Funding for Digital Projects: Funding initiatives often pivoted to support digital and virtual projects from private and public sources. Grants and relief funds distributed during the pandemic are sometimes targeted explicitly to enhance digital capabilities.
- Collaboration and Open Access: There was a significant movement toward open access, where institutions provided unrestricted access to digital images and data from their collections. Partnerships between institutions for digital projects also saw an upswing.
The impact of the pandemic on digitization initiatives highlighted both the potential and necessity of digital transformation in cultural institutions. As a result, many U.S. museums and libraries are expected to continue to expand and improve their digital presence. It’s also important to note that digital strategies now consider not only accessibility in terms of geographic location and physical ability but also aim to address broader concerns of digital equity and community engagement.
