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Capstone Innovation: Supporting Art History Students' Digital Projects at American University
No full textIn 2019, the art history program at American University gave its masters students a new option for the capstone project that is the culmination of the degree: create a digital project on an art historical topic using Omeka S or WordPress. Initially, only a single student chose to complete a digital capstone over a traditional thesis, but within two years there was near parity between the two options, meaning seven digital capstones for the 2021 cohort. To support these projects, a close partnership quickly developed between the University’s library, the visual resources center, and the archives.
This paper covers how three campus units coordinate that support for these innovative digital humanities projects, including administration of the platforms, instruction, technical support, preservation, and access to the final projects. The paper also showcases examples of student work to demonstrate the variety and creativity of projects that can be accomplished using these platforms, as well as their contributions to the field of art history. The outcome of this initiative is clear: the best of digital humanities, weaving design and technology with rigorous art historical research, and finished projects that have already resulted in successful job applications in the field
Comparative Study and Expansion of Metadata Standards for Historic Fashion Collections
No full textThis research seeks to contribute to efforts to standardize metadata across the costume and fashion domain by adding new metadata elements and controlled vocabularies to Costume Core. Expanding the metadata schema could increase the searchability and discoverability of fashion collections. To expand Costume Core, we used vocabulary from pre-trained Natural Language Processing (NLP) models to identify potential new descriptors from a conceptual latent space provided by a technique known as word embeddings. We also pulled from controlled vocabularies shared by other fashion collection personnel across the United States via online surveys.
The NLP techniques involved using a language model pre-trained on the Google News dataset to pinpoint terms similar to those in Costume Core. MOCHA, a Model Output Confirmative Helper Application, was developed to facilitate the review of potential descriptors. The results of the NLP analysis showed a difference between generated descriptors predicted to be accurate, and descriptors deemed accurate and confirmed by a fashion domain expert. However, using machine learning models for metadata expansion is justifiable due to the accuracy of generated descriptors and time-saving potential, as NLP analysis allowed for selection from a wider array of descriptors.
The revision process also resulted in identifying 528 new potential descriptors. The survey data indicated high variability in: collection cataloging systems; the resources used to determine accurate vocabulary for cataloging artifacts; the controlled vocabularies used; and how vocabularies were categorized, reflecting a lack of standardization in the field. However, by crowdsourcing controlled vocabularies, we discovered 48 new vocabularies that may be used to expand the Metadata schema.
In addition, the study provided insight into adding metadata elements in the form of fields or columns, such as those relating to medium such as fiber, fabric structure, and color, including hue, value, and intensity. The addition of such metadata elements could potentially enrich the schema and promote greater standardization of metadata across fashion collections
The "Life Cycle of Visual Assets": Advocating for the Profession
No full textThe VRA Identity Task Force was formed in 2018 in response to the Visual Resources Association Strategic Plan (2018-2022), which recommended that the VRA reflect upon its identity with regard to both its legacy and future. To address this charge, the Task Force engaged in a comprehensive analysis of the Association that ultimately resulted in a set of recommendations related to the VRA’s mission, core values, and vision. A key component of the work of the Task Force was the development of the Life Cycle of Visual Assets infographic, organized into categories that reflect the complex workflows and diversity of tasks performed by visual asset professionals: conceptualization, capture, description, management, access, preservation, and use. This article focuses on the Life Cycle, including the models that inspired it, what it consists of, and how it can be used as a tool to advocate for the importance of the profession
Beyond Translation: Translating VRA Core 4.0 into Chinese
No full textDeveloped in 1996, the VRA (Visual Resources Association) Core, now in its fourth version, is an internationally recognized metadata standard for describing works of visual culture and their surrogates. It has been integrated into schemes and tools to record cultural objects and related media files for decades. The primary document, VRA Core 4.0 Element Description and Tagging Examples (VRA Element Description), was first made available in English, followed by Italian and Greek. To expand its global influence, VRA has long sought to have its metadata standard translated into additional languages, including Chinese. Starting in early 2021, members of the VRA Cataloging and Metadata Standards Committee worked with a team of metadata practitioners to translate this document, inviting scholars and practitioners in the U.S., Taiwan, and mainland China to review translation drafts. Following an 18-month effort, VRA Element Description became available on the Library of Congress website (https://www.loc.gov/standards/vracore/schemas.html) on August 15, 2022 in both traditional and simplified Chinese. This article explores the origin and trajectory of the project and delves into the challenges encountered by the core team and reviewers at various phases. Key discussion points include the difference between the two language systems (traditional and simplified Chinese), the processes for selecting Chinese terms that share similar connotations with the original English terms, the role of reviewers in refining the drafts, and the unexpected difficulties in formatting the final versions.
Acknowledgements:
My sincere thanks go to Lisa Gavell at ITHAKA as this article could not have come to completion without her encouragement and help. I want to also thank Sara Schumacher, VRA Bulletin Content Editor; it’s her initial invitation for this article that motivated me to write about this 18 month-long group project. Last but not least, I want to express my deep gratitude to the translation team. I thank the team for their input on the draft of this paper and also for their persistence in carrying out the translation project from beginning to end. 
Review of "Global Debates in the Digital Humanities"
No full textThis article is a review of Global Debates in the Digital Humanities, the fourth, and latest, book in the Debates in the Digital Humanities series published by the University of Minnesota Press (2022). This volume is co-edited by Domenico Fiormonte (Roma Tre University, Italy), Sukanta Chaudhuri (Jadavpur University, India), and Paola Ricaurte (Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico)
Review of "Copyright: Best Practices for Academic Libraries"
No full textCopyright: Best Practices for Academic Libraries provides valuable advice for librarians to navigate the complex world of copyright law in their profession. The book consists of twenty chapters, each written by experts, focusing on academic libraries and enhancing copyright literacy. One of the book's aims is to enable readers to become proficient in understanding the intricacies of copyright and take an active part in the ongoing conversations. 
2023 Mid-Year State of the Visual Resources Association
No full textDuring the online VRA Mid-Year Meeting held on Thursday, March 23, 2023, the VRA President updated the membership on recent changes including the merger of the VRA and the VRA Foundation and shifting the annual conference to the fall. The President also highlighted new and ongoing efforts by the Exective Board, committees, and groups. This article provides the transcript
VRA Baltimore Awards: Exceptional Contributions to the Visual Resources Field in 2022
No full textOne of the highlights of every Visual Resources Association conference is when individuals or teams of information professionals are honored for distinguished achievements or outstanding career contributions at the annual awards ceremony. As a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to furthering research and education in the field of image management, these awards shine a light on leading-edge efforts and accomplishments in the educational, cultural heritage, and commercial environments. They are bestowed to acknowledge and celebrate VRA’s highest achievements. This article details the accomplishments of the 2022 award winners: Jolene de Verges, Distinguished Service Award; Afsaneh Najmabadi, Nancy DeLaurier Award; Lael Ensor-Bennett and Kendra Werst, Nancy DeLaurier Award; and Allan T. Kohl, Special Honorary Life Membership. The awards process is also outlined along with the support provided by the VRA Awards Committee. VRA members are encouraged to nominate colleagues for these special honors.
Acknowledgements:With special thanks and acknowledgment for ongoing work to VRA’s Awards Committee: Sarah Beck, Maureen Burns, Linda Callahan, Dawn Feavyour, Marcia Focht, Ann McShane, Summer Shetenhelm, and Margaret Webster.
 
2022 Visual Resources Association Treasurer's Report
No full textThe 2022 Treasurer's Report was presented at the hybrid remote and in-person Annual Business Meeting at the 2022 Annual Conference of the Visual Resources Association. It outlines the previous year's budget activity as well as steps taken to secure the Visual Resources Association's investments and financial future. This article provides the transcript
Review of MHz Curationist
No full textThis review provides a brief summary of the online digital curation platform Curationist. The principal project of the MHz Foundation, Curationist publishes visual and cultural materials found in the Creative Commons and public domain with the intent to expand and diversify the histories of art and culture found online.
Curationist is an attractive and easy-to-use platform that offers viewers the ability to explore individual works as well as collections and feature articles compiled by a global team of editors. As a whole, the platform appears to be in its nascent stage and does not yet offer the ability for users to zoom in on images, notate works, or arrange favorited images into collections of their own choosing. Curationist is planning a public release set for 2023 that will allow users curate their own collections and perform advance searches through an updated database