Colecciones digitales

This paper analyzes the concept of digital collections (DC) from the point of view of digital libraries, virtual libraries and digital archives, including the most diverse groupings of digital objects. Also are considered approaches to digital humanities and the conception of digital collections as data and Data collections. From the analysis is derived that under the term there are very different approaches. These ones come from the original disciplines, the context in which they are formulated or the institutions that support them, among many other elements that participate transversely. The DC are then considered subsumed in the concept of a border object, that is, a flexible entity that adapts to the needs and limitations of the various groups that use it, although it is robust enough to maintain a common identity in different areas. DC are used in libraries, archives and museums and are associated with very heterogeneous value-added services. The phases of the life cycle of the DC between the different approaches are analyzed, concluding that there are many correlations between the stages and the elements present using different optics. Finally, good practices that include aspects that are considered most significant in the design of the DC are developed: standards, interoperability, licensing, accessibility, semantic data, management, preservation, services, interaction and free software applications