Digitization at the National Library

Digitization will enable the National Library to make its collections available to citizens throughout all of Sweden via the Internet.

Goal

The National Library in Sweden has a long-term responsibility to care for and preserve its collections for the future, but also to make them available. We are consequently digitizing parts of our collections that are at risk of being ruined by wear because they are sensitive and so often requested.

The digital material will be readily accessible via the search functions in, for instance, the national library catalogue, LIBRIS, and our local catalogue, Regina, and through other search services as well. Users will be able to study the material using computers at the library, unless prevented by copyright law.

Technical infrastructure

The National Library is developing a technical infrastructure for a digital archive and to ensure long-term availability. The archive will house digitized material and collected digital material.

We are working with Fedora (Flexible Extensible Digital Object Repository Architecture), which is a software application for managing digital objects in digital libraries. The archive consists of two parts, a "dark archive" that provides a secure storage site for original files, and the open archive (digital repository), which is adapted for the users.

Digitization of the existing collections

We are currently digitizing its existing physical material, and stepping up the rate of production. The production work will be done in various production lines, depending on the nature of the material and the target quality level. One production line might be for high-quality reproductions of expensive material that is of value from a research standpoint, such as unique handwritten texts and older printed matter, while another line might be devoted to digitizing magazines or other printed matter, with the originals pared down to increase the production rate and volume.

Interfaces

A special working group at the National Library is studying the types of interfaces that need to be developed. Different types of materials require certain interfaces so that they can be displayed to users in the best manner possible. The focus is on user-friendliness and the ability to obtain an overview of different types of materials. The digital objects must also have links to other catalogues, such as LIBRIS, Regina and international search functions.