About Not Just Books: Digital Collections and Resources
Our Doctoral Open Days are for any PhD students interested in working with our collection 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
- Learn about research currently being undertaken at the British Library and our role as an Independent Research Organisation.
In this session, explore the Library’s digital collections with our Digital Research team and curators responsible for digital collections, including the UK Web Archive, the Endangered Archives Programme, and metadata for our collections.
If you have any questions about this event or would like to discuss accessibility or dietary requirements, please contact pgr@bl.uk.
Please note:
- On the day of the event, registration will open at 11.00, with optional activities running until 12.00. The main programme will begin at 12.00.
- Lunch will be provided and is included in the ticket price.
- 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.
Your support
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More information
About the programme
11.00 – 12.00: Registration
Registration opens at 11.00. Please arrive before 12.00 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.
12.00 – 13.00: Introductory Talks, Pigott Lecture Theatre
Learn the basics about our collections and what they include. Curators will provide a whistle-stop tour of the digital resources available in their collection area.
- Welcome to the British Library,Alice Marples, Postgraduate and Research Development Manager
- Introduction to Digital Research, Adi Keinan-Schoonbaert, Digital Curator
- Introduction to Digital Data in Research, Beth Gaskell, Lead Curator, News and Moving Images
- Introduction to Born-Digital Archives, Callum McKean, Digital Lead Curator, Contemporary Archives and Manuscripts
13.00 – 14.00: Lunch and meet your peers, Knowledge Centre Foyer
Enjoy lunch while getting to know your fellow research students. Remember to complete your Networking Bingo sheet to claim your prize!
14.00 – 14.45: Afternoon presentations, Pigott Lecture Theatre
Learn more about our digital collections and projects from our curatorial colleagues.
- Digital Mapping, Jo Kent, Lead Curator, Digital Map Collections
- Endangered Archives Programme, Jody Butterworth, Lead Curator, Endangered Archives
- Europeana (Europe’s Digital Cultural Heritage), Tom Miles, Metadata Coordinator, Europeana Sounds
14.45 – 15.00: Break
15.00 – 16.00: Panel discussion – making use of data in collections-based research, Pigott Lecture Theatre
Join a panel of digital researchers to discuss the use of collections data to support academic research.
About the day
About the day
- On the day of the event, registration will open at 11.00, with optional activities running until 12.00. The main programme will begin at 12.00.
- Lunch will be provided and is included in the ticket price.
- 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.
If you have any questions about this event or would like to discuss accessibility or dietary requirements, please contact pgr@bl.uk.
Attending your event
This is an in-person only event in the British Library Knowledge Centre. Please arrive no later than 15 minutes before the start time of this event. If you have specific access requirements please email customer@bl.uk
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