TCDL 2025

In September 2024 the Baylor University Libraries hosted the Texas Digital Humanities Symposium, a 2-day event showcasing the DH tools, resources, and research from across the state. This presentation examines the inception, planning, and management behind this symposium and considers its potential to foster an ongoing regional DH community if it is developed into an annual event.

The original vision for the symposium was born out of a collaboration between the Baylor Libraries' Data & Digital Scholarship program and Library Collections. Data & Digital Scholarship contributed experience with digital humanities engagement and programming while Library Collections looked to leverage vendor relationships to enhance the event.

Symposium organizers sought to strengthen engagement and DH connections across Texas through free registration,catered meals funded by sponsors, and lodging support for non-Baylor presenters. With 77 attendees covering 14 institutions and 3 vendors, the symposium featured a keynote on AI and humanities methodology, 16 peer presentations, a hands-on workshop, and a discussion on AI’s role in DH, with results documented on a publicly accessible Padlet.

Initial feedback suggests that the event successfully laid the groundwork for ongoing collaboration. Post-symposium survey results indicated that attendees highly valued networking opportunities. Additionally, they expressed interest in future discussions on cross-campus partnerships, community-engaged DH, grant strategies, and student-centered
research. Looking ahead, the symposium planning team is exploring an alternating in-person and virtual model to expand accessibility and sustain engagement.

This presentation will share key outcomes from the 2024 symposium, including attendee demographics, feedback, and strategies for strengthening a regional DH network through accessible, community-driven programming.

Discussion and audience participation-centered demonstrations will revolve around strategies that the TDL GIS Interest Group have employed to cultivate a virtual community through the Covid pandemic and into the post-pandemic landscape. Our strategy has balanced fun activities that center GIS while providing opportunities for participants to get to know each other. Those digital interactions have strengthened our community and led to in-person gatherings at conferences including group meals and our annual Birds of a Feather sessions. We have found that consistently encouraging GIS-relevant social connection keeps our core community strong and engaged, allowing us to advance professional development and accomplish group goals and providing ideas for social gatherings or for classroom activities.