Membership in Digital Scriptorium (DS) is an investment in linking resources among member institutions and out into the global linked data environment to advance knowledge of and access to unique manuscript witnesses of the world’s shared intellectual and cultural heritage housed in North American collections. Through its open and freely accessible online catalog built on Linked Open Data principles and technologies, DS connects researchers around the world to member collections and promotes a network of scholarship shared among participating institutions. Membership is open to all North American institutions holding a collection or collections of premodern manuscripts, no matter the size.
DS has three categories of membership: Members, Non-Voting Associates, and Supporting Members
Members are institutions who pay annual dues and are committed to active involvement in the governance and management of DS, including attendance at the annual meeting and serving on the Board of Directors.
Non-Voting Associates are institutions who, based on certain metrics described below, do not pay dues and do not participate in governance. Non-Voting Associates are encouraged to participate in and benefit from the ongoing activities of DS, including the annual meeting.
Member Institutions may elect to become Supporting Members by paying an amount higher than their calculated dues and/or contributing staff time to the maintenance and management of the technical platform.
DS gratefully acknowledges these Supporting Members:
- Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin
- Houghton Library, Harvard University
- University of Pennsylvania Libraries
Dues Calculation
Regular Membership dues range from $750 to $3500 are calculated according to a weighted fee schedule that assigns scores for each institution based on these parameters:
1. Materials Budget* 2. Student Body 3. Number of Manuscripts**
For institutions without students, the Student Body score is by default set to the lowest score, which works in the institution’s favor. This system means that DS requires no annual fee from about 1/3 of our participating institutions, although institutions that do not pay dues are considered Associates (not Members) and do not have voting privileges. As of October 1st, 2024, all new member and associate institutions are required to pay a one-time initial data contribution fee.
Membership fees and initial data contribution fees are applied to the management of the DS Catalog, website, and membership services. The expenses for meetings, including travel and lodging for the Board of Directors, are funded respectively by the member institutions of each board member. DS maintains an investment fund that depends wholly on voluntary contributions from donors. See our Investment Policy for the purpose, objectives, and spending guidelines for our investment fund.
*The Materials Budget is the same amount that an institution would provide in the annual ACRL Academic Library Trends and Statistics Survey. The instructions for the 2024 survey, with a more detailed explanation of what qualifies as material expenses, are available here.
**For a detailed explanation of in-scope manuscript objects, see our Guidelines for DS Member Contributors.