The Caribbean in the Open: Inside the Digital Library of the Caribbean

Today we interview the members of the Digital Library of the Caribbean, which has established itself as one of the leading international platforms dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of Caribbean documentary heritage. Founded in 2004 as a collaborative initiative between institutions in the Caribbean and the United States, dLOC now brings together more than one hundred partners working collectively to ensure open access to historical, cultural, and scientific materials related to the Caribbean and its diaspora. In this interview, we discuss the platform’s shared governance model, its post-custodial approach, the ethical and technological challenges of digital preservation, and the role of collaborative digital libraries in the democratization of knowledge.

1. The Digital Library of the Caribbean was born in 2004 with a small group of founding institutions and today has more than a hundred members. How has the project evolved from its beginnings to become such a large international network? (Archivoz)

(dLoC) From the beginning we have worked to build trust among our partners and potential partners, in the Caribbean and elsewhere. Our efforts in this regard are ongoing and have been successful since many of the organizations who joined the cooperative since 2004 have come to us through referrals. So, partners tell their colleagues about the Digital Library of the Caribbean and put them in touch with us and we begin a conversation.  We remain open to possibilities and try to meet the institution where they are. We do not pressure anyone to join and that can mean a partnership discussion goes on for years.

2. dLOC works as a cooperative with shared governance, where each member has a voice in decision-making. What advantages and challenges does this model present compared to other more centralized digital libraries?

(dLoC) There are several advantages to the shared governance model including that the partner is invested in the well-being and sustainability of the cooperative. Another is the diversity of voices that guide us as we try to address and meet the needs of partners and users alike. It is wonderful to have a network we can turn to if we have questions or need guidance with a problem or with a new initiative.

One of the biggest challenges is getting across the board participation in governance. Quite a few of our partners are very engaged and will join the partners’ meeting that we endeavor to have annually. They are among the ones willing to serve on the executive board or the scholarly advisory board, which are two important elements in our shared governance structure. Others are not as involved. We recognize that often this is because of their capacity. Many of our partners are one, two, or three-person operations and this can limit their ability to participate. We appreciate the contributions they can make to the cooperative within their capacity.

3. One of the most distinctive aspects of dLOC is its post-custodial approach, in which institutions retain rights to their materials. Why is this model important and how does it contribute to more ethical heritage management?

(dLoC) Our post-custodial approach to collection development is fundamental to our operations and what we are best-known and recognized for. dLOC claims no ownership over anything that is shared by a partner. Scrupulously respecting ownership rights is tied to our goal of building trust among our partners and future partners. In initial partner meetings and public presentations our team acknowledges that there is a long history of institutions in the global north appropriating the cultural heritage of those in the global south under the guise of “helping.” Our aim is to do better. Moreover, our post-custodial approach recognizes that institutions in the global south and the individuals who run them, know what is best for their cultural patrimony and are the best ones to decide how others should get to use that patrimony. Valuing the expertise and experience of our partners is a key factor in ethical heritage management.

4. The project offers free and open access to cultural, historical and scientific materials from the Caribbean. What impact does this accessibility have on academic research and on the communities of the Caribbean and its diaspora?

(dLoC) DLOC is the largest open access platform in the world that is completely focused on research resources from and about the Caribbean and Caribbean diaspora. The impact is evident in the number of views the platform receives monthly (in April 2026 there were over eight million views). Users come from all over the world and from all walks of life. This includes students just beginning their studies, and those about to complete their doctorates; university professors and academic researchers as well as new authors and family genealogists.

Through its free and open model dLOC democratizes access and knowledge, since all you need is a way to get on the internet and curiosity to use what is available on our site. You’ll notice that we did not say a computer is needed, that’s because our site is mobile friendly since we know many in the Caribbean browse and search the internet using mobile devices and we aim to accommodate that mode of access.

5. dLOC is defined as a “collection of collections”, with outstanding collections such as maps and newspapers of the Caribbean.

(dLoC) Defining dLOC as a “collection of collections,” is quite apt. We are a centralized access point for these resources. Some of the collections are specialized, such as the Caribbean Newspapers, Caribbean Maps, and Caribbean Law. Most, however, are partner collections where the items the individual partners have shared are gathered. The collection of collections puts our post-custodial approach into practice, since our Collections and Partners page makes clear to whom the items belong. It is also a way to help users narrow and be more successful with their research efforts. For example, if a project is focused on Aruba, Cuba, or Haiti the user can focus their attention on collections that cover those islands specifically.

6. The operational centers at the University of Florida and Florida International University play complementary roles. How is this collaboration articulated in the day-to-day of the project?

(dLoC) The two operational centers work closely and cooperatively with each other. The relationship is ever evolving as team members are encouraged to play to their strengths. We articulate it by presenting a united front and being supportive of each other. There are some responsibilities we share, such as answering the research and site navigation queries received from patrons. Individuals from both institutions lead classes to introduce students and other users to dLOC. These sessions are frequently facilitated together. While we share many responsibilities to keep things running smoothly and efficiently, the two institutions have distinct roles as well.

The University of Florida serves as the administrative and technical operational center for dLOC, anything to do with partnerships, affiliations, the website, uploading, digitization, training, or digital preservation is handled there. Florida International University serves as our public outreach center taking lead with social media, producing and distributing our newsletter, and managing our public mailing list. Given FIU’s location in Miami, they have hosted in-person gatherings for dLOC stakeholders. We make the relationship work by keeping the lines of communication open, being flexible, and knowing that we can ask each other for help if we need it. Just as with our partners the UF/FIU relationship is about “We” and not “Me” or “I.”

7. Beyond digital preservation, dLOC promotes educational activities, research and digital humanities. Could you share any recent examples that reflect this work with the community?

(dLoC) In 2022 the University of Florida was awarded a four-year grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Revitalizing the Digital Library of the Caribbean. One part of the project was an initiative to encourage the creation of Open Educational Resources (OER) that use and highlight dLOC resources. Three calls for proposals were issued between 2022 and 2025. We awarded thirty micro-grants to librarians, archivists, professors, and graduate students from a range of disciplines. Awardees created educational resources that are openly available and can be reused and/or adapted for classroom use. OER took the form of class readers, syllabi, primary source sets, lesson plans, among others. They were produced in English, French, Spanish, and Haitian Kreyòl – an acknowledgement of the variety of languages in the Caribbean.

The OER funded through the Revitalizing project are available on the dedicated website, Teaching the Caribbean and on the dLOC platform, along with other educational materials in the Teachers Resource collection. dLOC team members, who are themselves exploring Digital Humanities as a means of storytelling and analysis, promote dLOC as a data source for DH projects. We are happy to have conversations with those looking for guidance with their projects, and, in the spirit of cooperation, we often try to connect them with other DH practitioners in our network with similar interests.

8. Looking to the future: what are the main challenges and opportunities for a collaborative digital library like dLOC in the current context of technological transformation and access to knowledge?

(dLoC) The main challenges we face are akin to those faced by other institutions who are not necessarily collaborative digital libraries. The cost of technology can be prohibitive, leading to delays in upgrades that would improve the user experience, and the work our technical team does in the background. Technology seems to change almost daily. With the increasing use and prevalence of A.I. we are grappling with ethical questions concerning how the resources we make available are being used by these systems. Metadata, the descriptive information that makes resources findable, is time consuming to create, and maintaining consistency when different partners are creating it is yet another challenge.

Maneuvering these and other challenges gives us the opportunity to involve partners. The many voices and perspectives mentioned earlier are opportunities to come up with creative ways to consider the big questions we are facing. As we continue to grow the partnership and collections this presents opportunities to expand the narratives imposed on many Caribbean nations by making more resources available. In all of our endeavors, past, present, and future, we know we must work with our partners to capitalize on opportunities and address challenges.

Image: Carteles (Havana), February 10, 1957, Oscar H. Massaguer, Editor, Havana, Caribbean Newspaper Collection of the Biblioteca Nacional de Cuba José Martí and Caribbean Newspaper Collection, UFDC Digital Collection.

Cover image: Emanuel Bowen, An Accurate Map of the West Indies, 1752, London. Library of Congress and Caribbean Map Collections, Digital Library of the Caribbean, UFDC Digital Collection.