Digital Curation: The Challenge Driving Convergence across Memory Institutions

Collaboration between libraries, archives and museums (LAMS) is undertaken in a continuum which starts with an initial understanding of the differences between the disciplines, and can lead to full convergence with a shared mission and delivery of shared services. Collaboration brings increasing benefits in resource efficiencies and user uptake as participating organizations progress through the continuum. It is in the area of digital content creation and management that the synergies of the disciplines are most often harnessed through cooperative exploration, coordinated projects and collaborative services. This paper examines and extends the Collaboration Continuum first identified by Soehner and elaborated by Zorich, Gunter, and Erway through analyises of the existing research into the nature of LAM collaboration, and identification of the core ethical differences which govern seemingly similar agenda. The paper proposes digital curation as the “change agent” which will bring about full convergence between the professions, as they move through the digital content and management continuum.