About Doctoral Open Day: Digital Collections and Resources
Our Doctoral Open Days are for current and prospective PhD students interested in working with our collections during their studies. Each Open Day showcases a different area of our collection, with the aim of making our materials as accessible as possible.
Our Open Days give you the opportunity to:
- understand how to access our collection
- get expert advice from our Reference Specialists
- speak with curators of collections relevant to your studies
- meet researchers with similar research interests and develop your academic network.
The day consists of three panel sessions, each focusing on a different element of digital research. Each session includes time for your questions:
- Digitisation: learn about the Library’s digitisation work and how to access digitised material. Explore how we approach pressing challenges like digital preservation and digital sustainability
- Collections Metadata: discover the potential of collections metadata as a resource for your research. Curators will introduce useful tools for digital researchers to make use of our collections metadata
- AI in the Digital Humanities: join our digital researchers for an overview of our approach to AI in research, as well as the potential risks and benefits it brings
- you also have the opportunity to speak with our Reference Specialists in an optional drop-in session at the start of the day. The Reference Team can advise you on the practicalities of accessing our collections and answer any questions you have about getting your research started.
If you have any questions about this event or would like to discuss accessibility or dietary requirements, please contact pgr@bl.uk.
More information
Full Programme
10.30–11.30: Registration
Registration opens at 10.30. Please arrive before 11.30 for the start of the main programme.
Optional activities
Once you have registered, you can take part in our optional activities. The day is free-flowing, so you are welcome to explore the Library or stay and chat with other attendees or members of our Research Development team.
- Pigott Lecture Theatre – Pre-recorded material will be shown, illustrating some of the additional resources available at the British Library.
- Chaucer Room – Drop-in session hosted by our Reference Services team, who are available to answer any questions you might have about accessing our collections and who to contact when you need support.
11.30–12.15: Welcome and Introduction
Understand our digital collections, what you can find, and how to use them
- welcome to the British Library
- introduction to digital research at the British Library
- introduction to born-digital archives
- introduction to the web archives.
12.15–13.00: Digitisation, Pigott Theatre
Learn about the Library’s digitisation work and how to access digitised material. Explore how we approach pressing challenges like digital preservation and digital sustainability. Panellists to be announced.
13.00–13.40: Lunch and meet your peers, Knowledge Centre Foyer
Enjoy lunch while getting to know your fellow research students.
13.40–14.40: Collections metadata, Pigott Theatre
Discover the potential of collections metadata as a resource for your research. Curators will introduce useful tools for digital researchers to make use of our collections metadata. Panellists to be announced.
14.40–15.00: Break
15.00–16.00:AI in the digital humanities, Pigott Lecture Theatre
Join our digital researchers for an overview of our approach to AI in research, as well as the potential risks and benefits it brings. Panellists to be announced.
About the Day
Please note that:
- on the day of the event, registration will open at 10.30, with optional activities running until 11.30. The main programme will begin at 11.30
- lunch will be provided and is included in the ticket price. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements (allergies, intolerances and vegetarian/vegan), but please be aware we cannot accommodate preferences
- you will not be able to bring your bag into some sessions due to collection security rules, please do not bring any valuables which cannot be left unattended.
- a quiet space will be provided for anyone who needs it.
Looking for a different Doctoral Open Day? Explore our other Doctoral Open Days currently available to book.
Your support
The British Library is a charity. Your support helps us open up a world of knowledge and inspiration for everyone. Please consider adding a donation to your basket.
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