In this early career research development project, DR

This Project Grant award of $374,288 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (CFDA 45.313) will support Dr. Alexandra Chassanoff's research into the current needs, challenges, and professionalization pathways for born-digital stewardship. The key activities and deliverables include conducting an environmental scan, studying several communities of practice, interviewing stakeholders, and producing a synthesis of professionalization pathways as well as a summative report and guide on cultivating professional born-digital stewardship communities of practice. By examining practitioner experiences, this project aims to help diminish the gap between best practices and existing realities for born-digital stewardship in libraries and archives across the nation. The award period runs from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2027, with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill serving as the prime awardee.

Alexandra chassanoff will investigate how born-digital stewards describe their current needs and challenges; what professionalization pathways exist; and what role, impact, and value communities of practice have in born-digital stewardship. Activities will include conducting an environmental scan, studying several communities of practice via site observations and focus group sessions, and interviewing other expert community of practice stakeholders. Deliverables will include a synthesis of current professionalization pathways, a summative report on born-digital stewardship, and a guide to cultivating professional born-digital stewardship communities of practice. By sharing actionable guidance derived from practitioner experiences, the project will help diminish the widening GAP in born-digital stewardship between best-in-practice theories and existing realities in libraries and archives across the nation.