Digitization of Cultural Heritage

Digitization of cultural heritage refers to the dynamic and evolving interdisciplinary domain that encompasses philosophical, social, cultural, economic and managerial aspects and consequences of management of cultural heritage in the technological environment. Considering scarcity of research compared with the growing importance of digitization education, the aim of this chapter is to foster discussion about integration of digitization disciplines into LIS curricula in higher education schools across Europe in the context of Bologna process. For this purpose, the current education trends in digitization are reviewed, the conceptual framework for digitization is developed and the model for digitization studies, covering structure, scope, learning outcomes and teaching methods is proposed. It is concluded that the educational models in digitization are affected by the main trends in relevant research which are in the stage of transition from a purely technological approach to the appreciation of social and human aspects in studies of cultural heritage. The suggested educational model is based on a multilayered concept of communication of memory that reflects the complex nature of cultural heritage phenomenon and foresees the synergies between LIS, archival science, museology and computer science.