The Warburg Library Online: transforming a unique print research library into the digital sphere

Abstract

From 2014 to 2022, the Warburg began an enhanced programme of digital change called the Warburg Library Online, appointing three new members of staff. As our poster will illustrate, projects included the creation of a digitisation programme to be added to a new Warburg Digital Library, a thematic open access repository that adapts the classification system to online retrieval called the Warburg Library Commons, the acquisition of electronic resources and databases, a new library management system and discovery layer, the use of Libguides as a web portal, new social media presences, and a programme of digital training for staff and students now fundamental to the Warburg's postgraduate teaching and research programme. This combined new uses of metadata, software and hardware, services, and workflows in the library. It has been transformative. This poster will discuss the challenges, opportunities and changes that the programme has brought about, reflecting on the role the Warburg Library Online played during the COVID 19 lockdowns when the physical library was shut by necessity. The project will be fully complete with the introduction of a single search function for these collective projects.