What does "user engagement" refer to in digital archives?

User engagement in the context of digital archives refers to strategies developed to involve users with digital collections. This encompasses various approaches aimed at fostering interaction between the users and the digital materials available. Engaging users can include various activities such as creating intuitive interfaces, organizing community events, facilitating user-generated content, and providing educational resources to help users discover and utilize the collections effectively.

By enhancing user engagement, digital archives can increase visibility and accessibility, making users feel more connected to the materials. This can also lead to a more active and immersive experience where users contribute to, share, and advocate for the collections they value, ultimately enriching the archival community.

While encouraging users to donate materials, establishing access policies, and measuring digital traffic are important aspects of managing archives, they do not encompass the broader concept of actively involving users with the collections in a meaningful way.