The Craft of Database Curation: Taking Cues from Quiltmaking

Abstract

Data migration within library, archive and museum collections is a critical process to maintaining collection data and ensuring its availability for future users. This work is also an under supported component of digital curation. In this poster we present the findings from 20 semi-structured interviews with archivists, collection managers and curators who have recently completed a data migration. One of our main findings is the similarities between craft work and migration practices in memory institutions. To demonstrate these similarities, we use quiltmaking as as a framework. These similarities include the practice of piecing multiple systems together to complete a workflow, relying on community collaboration, and inter-generational labor. Our hope is that by highlighting the craftful qualities already embedded in this work we can show alternative best practices to data migration and database management. This is in an effort to get a broader understanding of what a successful data migration can look like.