Introduction

In this chapter we suggest that an open approach to licensing in cultural heritage should be developed. Building on the developments in the open movement and the realities of intellectual property rights set out earlier in this book, we argue that there should be openness in the sector. We describe why organisations should consider being open, looking in detail at both the core benefits and potential risks of an open approach.

Acting with purpose: why are you making digital collections available?

Digital raison d’être

Informed and logical decision making should guide the work of cultural institutions. A visitor to an exhibition of abstract art might expect to see works there by Piet Mondrian. Conversely, if the art of J. M. W. Turner was included it would appear out of place and visitors would reasonably question the decision making and structure behind the show.

The need to act with purpose is equally present in the newer, less tangible, and more fluid realms in which cultural heritage organisations are increasingly operating. If an art gallery intends to undertake a digitisation project, it is reasonable to expect that staff make informed decisions about what material will be captured, to what quality standards, and in what format images will be retained. A gallery preparing a digital exhibition on abstract art may seek to digitise works by Mondrian. It may be questionable for the gallery to use the launch of an abstract art exhibition to digitise works by Turner.

Cultural and information organisations need to make logical, strategic and sustainable decisions before, during and after digital capture, considering why material should be captured, how it will be managed before and after capture, and who it is being captured for. In short, organisations need to consider their digital raison d’être.

Strategy

The 2013 Enumerate study of nearly 1400 European cultural heritage institutions found that most (87%) had a digital collection. However, only around a third (36%) of the institutions had a distinct digitisation policy. Slightly fewer (34%) of the organisations actually had an explicit policy for the use of their digital collections. These figures indicate that while maintaining digital collections is common and increasingly common, only about one-third of institutions have dedicated policies on digitisation.