A blended learning-based curriculum on Web archiving in the national Széchényi library
Authors: Németh Márton , Drótos László 
Published: August 2019

Purpose

National Széchényi Library is introducing a new blended learning-based curriculum model on Web archiving for public collection professionals. The purpose of this paper is to describe this curriculum concept together with its international context.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study is being offered. The concept of the curriculum applying the results of an international questionnaire of the International Internet Preservation Consortium. A detailed curriculum structure is being presented together with a brief description of the major professional/ methodological concepts. It is based on constructive pedagogical approach. Based on the same general approach, some major methodological differences among the on-site and e-learning elements of curriculum design are also being described.

Findings

There is a high need to offer trainings in Web archiving filed to digital library professionals throughout Europe. A complex curriculum is highly needed to different target groups by various course delivery forms. The course concept offers a solid base; however, the structure of the curriculum has to reflect to the differences of specific methodological requirements in on-site and e–learning environments. A main goal of the study is describing the possibility to build-up that kind of hibrid blended learning-based training structure. Based on the described curriculum trainings are starting on April 2019. Sharing practical experiences about practical training activities based on this course structure can initiate further discussion on web archiving education field in the future.

Research limitations/implications

This paper would like to imitate some further discussions about methodological issues by developing education and training curricula on Web archiving in various European countries. By the framework of the Training Working Group of the International Internet Preservation Consortium, these proposed discussions can be elaborated.

Practical implications

The main practical implications are to encourage other partner libraries by the framework of the Training Working Group of International Internet Preservation Consortium to build-up similar training programmes and to plan various collaborative activities in this field.

Social implications

The proposed curriculum aims to acquire some major skills and competences on web archiving field by librarians from both the research library and public library sectors. The course can be available to museum professionals and archivists […]. The main goal is to learn to build-up small-scale web archiving projects in local, institutional environments in Hungary. It is quite necessary to preserve Web documents and other materials that are reflecting to the life of the local society. The social impact of preserving the local Web history can be overwhelming in the future.

Originality/value

Much untapped potential exists for librarians, archivists and museum professionals to plan and realize Web archiving projects in their own local institutional environments. This paper describes a new type of national model to offer them getting the necessary skills and competences in this field. There is a significant gap of describing education concepts in Web archiving.