Collaboration and the role of a metadata librarian in an e-infrastructure project at the University of Oslo

Short paper presentation held 2022-03-17 Abstract: In 2020, the University of Oslo was granted funds to establish the project Special Collections and Databases. The project’s goal is to establish a common, digital platform to facilitate archiving and cataloguing of special collections and making them accessible, as well as discipline-specific archives, locally developed databases, text, and audio-visual materials not included in the University library’s catalogue. Among two new positions created for the project was that of a metadata librarian. Part of their role is to coordinate between the needs of the pilot projects and the possibilities in the digital platform when it comes to metadata, and between the platform and the project group in order to determine which solution is the right choice looking forward. An interesting question is whether the role of the metadata librarian in a project like this also could include a more general coordinating aspect, focusing on establishing a good collaboration platform. The material in the pilots participating in the project (two of which will be detailed in this paper) is quite different in nature and therefore requires different approaches. Some material is neither digitized nor properly organized and is in need of a proper archival structure. Other materials are already wholly or partly digitized, but carries with it other issues such as a need for a good interface for search and access, as well as clarifying issues related to privacy and copyright. A significant amount of time is therefore necessary to establish a good platform for collaboration with clearly defined and tailored roles and workflows. In addition to expertise related to metadata, knowledge of storage and archiving as well as legal expertise is therefore needed. Regular contact with the research community is also vital, in order to capture the future needs of scientists wishing to conduct research on the collection’s resources. This paper aims to give an insight into the special collections e-infrastructure project at the University of Oslo, from the perspective of the metadata librarian and their various collaborator