Project

Cultural Institution IIIF Expansion (Anonymized)

Overview

A mid-sized cultural institution was expanding public access to its digitized collections using the International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF). The technology enabled new possibilities for creativity, scholarship, and accessibility, but without a governance model, the risk was clear: inequitable use of cultural assets, accessibility gaps, and eroded trust.

Challenge

The institution needed to reconcile two competing imperatives: its mandate for open access and its obligation to protect sensitive or community-owned materials. Without a governance framework, it risked reproducing colonial patterns of extraction while failing to meet accessibility standards.

Approach

I authored a governance report that balanced open access with ethical stewardship by:

• Consulting with curators, archivists, accessibility specialists, and community representatives.
• Mapping legal and ethical considerations, from copyright to privacy to Indigenous cultural rights.
• Designing a tiered access model that preserved open use where possible while safeguarding sensitive materials.
• Recommending technical and metadata practices to enhance accessibility, including screen reader compatibility and multilingual support.

Outcome

The governance model was formally submitted for adoption as institutional policy. Its adoption would strengthen compliance with WCAG 2.1, improve trust with interest holders, particularly Indigenous and underrepresented communities, and provide a roadmap for ethical, sustainable digital collections management.

Reflection

Digital access means more than flipping a switch. Without governance, “open” can quickly become “open season.” This framework proves that accessibility, equity, and stewardship can,  and must, coexist.

Key Takeaways

• Designed a governance framework balancing open access with ethical responsibility.
• Integrated cultural protocols into technical decision-making.
• Ensured WCAG 2.1 accessibility compliance.
• Strengthened institutional trust with diverse community interest holders.
• Produced a transferable model for responsible digital collections governance.