Crowdsourcing in Danish ArchivesAsbjørn Hellum, Denmark

What is crowdsourcing?

- More than an easy way to save money and get things done

www.sa.dk

- Not the same as ”using volunteers” on site

“…crowdsourcing represents the act of a company or institution taking a function once performed by employees and outsourcing it to an undefined (and generally large) network of people in the form of an open call” . (Jeff Howe, cited from Wikipedia)

- The basic concept of participation is not new to the heritage institutions of Denmark

Danish Demographic Database (Danish State Archives)18 mio. posts – about 1000 contributors – 1992 and still running

• Nygårds” Notes (Volunteer group / Danish State Archives)478.276 posts – 5 photographers + ”keyers” - 2008- 2010

• CPR tracks in the Danish Church Records750.000 pages – 160 contributers - 2010 – and additional 400.000 pages since then

• Sejr’s Notes (Aarhus City Archives) 100.000 posts – number of contributors unkown - 2012 (basic indexing)

Police Register (Genealogical Societies / Cph. City Archives)1,4 mio . posts – about 500 contributors - 2009 - 2012 (basic indexing) – has API

Municipal Records (Frederikshavn City Archives) 10.000 pages uploaded for transcription to normal text

www.sa.dk

World War I casualties from the Southern part of Jutland5,333 casualties were registered

Denmark seen from the air a national portal for aerial photography

8 af 16

www.sa.dk

Danish Demographic Database (Danish State Archives)18 mio. posts – about 1000 contributors – 1992 and still running

Nygård Notes (Volunteer group / Danish State Archives) 478.276 posts – 5 photographers + ”keyers” - 2008- 2010

CPR tracks in the Danish Church Records 750.000 pages – 160 contributers - 2010 – and additional 400.000 pages since then

Sejr’s Notes (Aarhus City Archives)100.000 posts – number of contributors unkown - 2012 (basic indexing)

Municipal Records (Frederikshavn City Archives) 10.000 pages uploadet for transcription to normal text

World War I casualties from the Southern part of Jutland5,333 casualties were registered

Denmark seen from the air a national portal for aerial photography

Danish examples of crowdsoursing

User perspective: What´s in it for me?

User perspective: What´s in it for me?

- I want to contribute to something valuable and lasting

www.sa.dk

- I want to help people who have interests similar to mine

- I want recognition, influence, social activities – and maybe a little gift?

- I participate in building a shared infrastructure - It is a way to use the cultural heritage institutions

Crowdsourcing as a business model?

- A way to avoid pointless projects?

www.sa.dk

- A road to relevance?

- A way of transforming your organisation?

http://Minister Crowdsourcing

A coming crowdsourcing project

- The Danish West Indies online

www.sa.dk

- A way giving the West Indies their history back