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This paper describes the experience gained at the University of Padova Library System on modelling, creation, management and preservation of digital collections with Phaidra, the Digital Asset Management tool created and developed by the University of Vienna, for GLAM institutions (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums). There is also an examination of the motivations and strategies for creating a model for the presentation of the collections aimed at enhancing the cultural heritage of libraries, archives and museums of the University and local partners (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and Università Iuav di Venezia) and intended for use by a specialised audience as well as by the general public. Future challenges include the repository certification and the enrichment of the search functionality.

The seminar A FAIR-enabling citation model for Cultural Heritage Objects: lessons (not yet) learned from an ongoing project was held on 26th May 2023, organised by the project team and directed at colleagues from the University Library System of the University of Padua. In the context of the seminar, we had the opportunity to present RDA and the richness of its activities, EOSC, EOSC Future and RDA EOSC Future Open Calls, as well as the RDA Open Call for Cross-Disciplinary Science Adoption, to which our project also belongs. We then devoted short presentations to some of the actions carried out so far (Cross-disciplinary exploratory interviews and A quantitative analysis of data repository citation practices) and in progress as well (The missing tail and The RDA Metadata Standards Catalog as a home for citation practices: a proposal), highlighting the aims, methodology and issues of the project, with a view to openness not only in the sharing of results but also in the whole ongoing research process. The seminartook place in a hybrid mode (in person and online). Besides communicating the project itself, it was also a small action of how the library community may contribute to building a common culture of data and of FAIR data being pursued with the ongoing constitution of the European Open Science Cloud.

At the University of Padova, 2020 marks a decade-long cooperation with the University of Vienna. A shared evolution that originated with the adoption of Phaidra as a long-term archive for digital collections, shaped by an organizational effort involving projects, work groups and recurring meetings, which has continued through the inclusion of cutting-edge technologies and also resulted in an authoritative certification. This presentation outlines Phaidra as a living system, ever-changing and constantly improving data FAIRness, aiming to be a trustworthy repository and source for research and teaching purposes, as well as for the enjoyment of the general public.