Scaling Up Collaboration Online: Toward a Collaboratory for Research on Canadian Writing

Abstract

This article asks researchers of Canadian writing to reflect on collaboration as increasingly crucial to how we do our work in the context of digital environments that increasingly shape our work through their tools and resources. Scholars are in a position to help address major gaps in both online cultural content and digital infrastructure in Canada, both of which are vital to the continuing study of literature. Given the lack of a national digitization initiative and increasing government cuts, the need for high-quality Canadian web content and the interests of scholars in Canadian writing converge. The article describes the Canadian Writing Research Collaboratory as one attempt to addressing these gaps, while also outlining the substantial challenges—which are finally cultural rather than technical—associated with developing incentives to collaboration, fostering adherence to best practices, and demonstrating value in virtual research environments and the work that supports them. However, if emerging digital research infrastructures can foster collaboration, open access, and sustainability, they will make a historical difference to the cultural infrastructure and cultural memory of Canada.