Review of Oral History and Digital Humanities: Voice, Access, and Engagement

Oral History and Digital Humanities: Voice, Access, and Engagement by Douglas A. Boyd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book after hearing a talk by Douglas A. Boyd. It is an interesting and detailed exploration of oral history. The chapters are written to show good examples of what is possible and in some instances to show what could have been done better (like not reducing the background sounds). Ideas such as Creative Commons licensing, are included.

The importance of long format oral history is discussed, and that the length of the interview and the detail recorded add value and provide much research potential. Oral history is not about snappy sound bites. The importance of oral history being online, and searchable (through the use of methods such as OHMS) is also covered. That oral history is listened to, is also highlighted. It sounds obvious, but when much access has been via transcript, sometimes that it is a spoken method can be forgotten. There is good coverage of the importance of access to the recordings so it is important for non-digital formats to be digitised, catalogued, indexed and made available for people to research and listen to for other reasons.

"I believe in the primacy of the recording for our professional practice, while fully understanding and acknowledging the role of text to facilitate discovery and access" and looking for "sustainable models to connect archival users to the online primary sources".

It is a book I will have to reread, and keep thinking about the ideas raised in it.





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lovely ways to suggest reading - from CSIRO

Have you been wondering why your friends and family have been looking wistfully off into the distance - like this #Emperor #penguin here? We think we know why: they're secretly hoping you'll get them a book from our ‘Twelve books of #Christmas' list. We have the perfect range of books to satisfy the cravings of any #science fan, from #bugs and #birds (including penguins 🐧, of course) to Ned Kelly and ocean faring research vessels.🚢 With so many options, you'll surely find the right #gift to put under the #tree 🎄🎄🎄, but in case you need some more convincing we’re offering free shipping as well - no need to rely on Rudolph and the gang. Make sure you get your order in before 16 December, so the gift will be delivered by Christmas. Click on the link in the bio for more information. Image: Graham Blight #christmasgifts #xmas #xmasgifts #christmasgiftideas #deepthinkingpenguin

A photo posted by CSIRO (@csirogram) on Dec 2, 2015 at 8:29pm PST

CSIRO has many good ideas, and this promotion of reading is one. I know they are suggesting buying books, but it could be a lovely time suggesting borrowing, so that people do not accumulate more stuff and participate in a sharing economy. It could be a time to give a library card.

Museums and interactivity, part 1

Boott Cotton Mill Museum had some very interesting features. They were part of a national park hashtag promotion


They also had an area with comfortable seating where you could explore books about the area. These books were also available for sale in the museum shop, but it was nice to have this area to have a read.

Denver Art Museum has a very interest mix of museum interactivity, with many of their exhibitions having spaces (just after the exhibition), to explore the ideas to try out creative responses and to make things. One of the art works was added to by the visitors. This was a high degree of interactivity. Some of it was targeting children, but some of the making and learning was targeting adults.
This area was for children and was connected to the Miro exhibtion

This art work could be added to

This was an area to make a post card,


This was a different kind of touch screen

This space followed and exhibition of American Indian Art

This one was connected to a textile exhibtion

and you could explore weaving

You could also play with Hieronymus Bosch puppets

This museum was providing lots of space to think about the area you were seeing, as well as to have a better understanding of how it was made, but also to see some of the inspirations for the art. Some of the interactions were digital , but many more were with marbles, paper, or wool. This is something to consider for libraries too. It was also great to see so many opportunities for adults to make and interact. There were also places to read about art