Digital Humanities Start Up Grant: Metadata Games -- An Open Source Electronic Game for Archival Data Systems

FAIN: HD-50849-09

Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH 03755-1808)
Mary D. Flanagan (Project Director: April 2009 to June 2011)

Development of an open source computer game for the Internet that would supplement library metadata on holdings in collections with descriptions provided by the public.

Our team proposes a Level II startup project to create a working example of an open source internet-based computer game system for augmenting access to archival records via crowdsourcing. This game software system, Metadata Games, and the funding for the Start Up will allow us to design and build a prototype of Metadata Games for the Rauner Library at Dartmouth College. This pilot is seen as seed for a larger open source initiative that would fully allow for the deployment of the full Open Source Electronic Game for Archival Data Systems at other institutions. Anticipated outcomes of this startup grant will be a technically sound, scalable model for the creation of Metadata Games on an open source platform that would also support later visualization efforts compatible with archival and library standards. How can the strengths of current digital tools enhance the environment and the collection of the archive? Can the use of player choice enhance access to the archive?