Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (Rutgers University, School of Communication, Department of Library and Information Science)

Rutgers University, in collaboration with Simmons University and the University of Connecticut, will address the need to create integrated, flexible, and comprehensive approaches to provenance documentation across types of collections. Provenance is the story of how something has come to be, whether it be physical, digital, or even an abstract idea. While the importance of provenance crosses disciplinary boundaries, current practice lacks collective conversation and scholarship. The project will plan events bringing together 100 research and practitioner experts from across many disciplines over the course of 24 months. At these events, participants will share their expertise on current provenance debates, such as disciplinary silos, temporality, and persuasiveness. The project will result in a community of practice to clarify foundational provenance challenges and support future work on improved models and documentary approaches. Ultimately, the work will promote greater transparency and accountability in the management and curation of cultural heritage, digital data, and e-science collections.