Understanding Ephemerality and Loss in Digital Humanities Projects: What Surveys of the Field Can Reveal

This paper discusses the ever-changing technology power the digital humanities and the resulting ephemerality and loss of DH projects, specifically looking at surveys of the field for insight. The Graceful Degradation Survey, originally implemented in 2009 and conducted again in 2022, intended to learn more about how DH projects decline or end and how practitioners plan for or react to such outcomes. Topics addressed in this discussion include the longitudinal nature of this data, which is also worth comparing to the Endings Project at the University of Victoria and to developments in DH research. Some findings include data about the demographics of the field (which have remained somewhat static over time); emergent understandings about decline but slow implementation of solutions; concerns about what might be the best practices for maintaining or ending projects; and concerns about whether planning for project ends has the potential to stifle innovation or creativity.