Humanities Computing & Libraries

The Studio for Digital Projects and Research

A Unique Center for Technology

Lorna Hughes and Philip Galanter

The Studio for Digital Projects and Research is a new center for advanced research and experimentation with technology applications in the Arts, Humanities and Digital Libraries. It is a collaborative venture between the NYU Libraries and Information Technology Services (ITS), and has been developed under the leadership of NYU Dean of Libraries Carol Mandel and Chief Information Technology Officer Marilyn McMillan.

This exciting project is the result of long-term planning and discussion with staff from several groups at ITS and the NYU Libraries. The center consolidates a number of existing ITS and Libraries programs and services, which will foster the development of initiatives in creating digital resources for the Arts, Humanities and related fields, and provide a venue for the emerging NYU digital library.

Occupying the east side of the second floor of Bobst Library (the former home of NYU Press), the Studio is a center where NYU faculty will find state of the art equipment for the creation and use of digital resources for research, including resources that are uniquely available, both locally and remotely. These materials include primary texts, reference works, finding aids, analytical tools, images, video and audio resources, and the most up-to-date hardware and software. In addition, the Studio provides a home for long-term digital scholarly content development projects, which will facilitate the creation, use, analysis, and repurposing of digital resources in non-quantitative investigations. All NYU faculty are welcome to explore the resources of the Studio: as walk-in users to get information about the resources available there; as users of resources only available at the Studio; or as users working on long-term Studio projects.

The Studio is a center for information, training, referral and advice about the resources and collections that are housed there. It is staffed by a rotating group of experts from the NYU Libraries and ITS. These experts will work with all faculty at NYU who are interested in using the equipment and digital collections to be found there, or in finding out more about using new technology in academic research.

The Studio also serves as a clearinghouse for information about other technical resources and centers at NYU. Studio staff coordinate closely with the Faculty Technology Center, the other ITS labs and the Avery Fisher Center to ensure integrated access to Libraries and ITS services. It is also a home for extensive content-creation projects that have been accepted for Studio support. Researchers and staff working on projects of this nature may become fellows or affiliates of the Studio, and the Libraries and ITS staff have opportunity for professional development through work on internal projects that enhance and support the objectives of the Studio.

The Studio includes the following areas:

• Humanities and Digital Text Area
  A large user area with Macs, PCs, text scanners, CD-ROM collections of digital texts and humanities computing tools.
• Multimedia Area
  A partitioned area for simple image scanning, digital audio, and digital video.
• Digital Library Area
  A partitioned area with a PC and Macintosh for development of digital library tools and resources.
• Staff Office
  A two-person office with shared desks for the use of the core staff.
• Technical Room
  A non-public room for system repair and configuration, beta-test hardware and software, Internet2 experimentation, and media server prototypes.
• Media Production Room
  A broadcast quality video and audio production room with live sound and enough room to screen media for small project groups.
• Server Room
  Houses production servers and other support equipment.
• Project Cubicles
  An area which contains four partitioned desks for those involved with long-term Studio-sponsored projects to work and store their materials.

In support of its advanced technology functions, the Studio is enabled with a high speed network including special Internet2 connections, as well as taps for the campus broadband.

The Studio will be open to all NYU faculty early in the spring 2001 semester. For more information about the Studio, including opening hours and details of how to contact Studio staff, please see our website at www.nyu.edu/studio, or send e-mail to digital.studio@nyu.edu

Posted February 16, 2001