Abstract
For approximately thirty years, textual scholars have been using digital methods for the publication of their scholarly editions. However, after an initial period of enthusiasm, editors are increasingly recognizing the fragility of Digital Scholarly Editions (DSEs). These research products often end up being maintenance-intensive, requiring the continued care of highly skilled (and expensive) IT experts to remain accessible. Compounding this fragility is the fact that most digital scholarly editions today exist as a single copy on one server. These inherent weaknesses in their development and publication models place DSEs at a significant disadvantage compared to printed editions in terms of long-term preservation and accessibility. This project advocates for a reorientation in digital scholarly editing, emphasizing the creation of preservable, maintenance-free editions and a reassessment of current publication models, inspired by the history of textual transmission. Dissemination has always been central to text preservation. The "LOCKSS" principle—lots of copies keep stuff safe—has ensured the survival of ancient, medieval, and early modern texts. This strategy was carried forward into the publication model of printed books, effectively "future-proofing" scholarly editions in book form. To ensure the sustainability of DSEs, the precarious single-server publication model must be replaced by one that prioritizes wide dissemination of copies.
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