New Horizon of Digitization in Serbia improvement of digitization through cooperation with world leading institutions and the in-house development of digital tools

Nikola Smolenski ; Nemanja Zikic ; Matea Milosevic ; Milena Kostic ; Vasilije Milnovic ; Adam Sofronijevic

Review of the National Center for Digitization, Tome 30 (2017) no. 1.

Résumé

In 2016 the University Library "Svetozar Markovic" in cooperation with eight partner institutions started a project entitled "New Horizon of Digitization in Serbia" which was funded by the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia. The aim of the project was to improve the main segments of digitization which were developed properly and to apply new digitization methods in as many institutions in Serbia in a standardized way. New digitization methods and approaches used in this project mostly come from the cooperation of the University Library "Svetozar Markovic" with the world leading institutions such as the British National Library or result from the in-house development of digital tools which improve segments of digitization process. During 2016 the University Library "Svetozar Markovic" in cooperation with the British National Library carried out the project entitled "Safeguarding the fragile collection of the private archive of the Lazic family" within which it acquired rich experience in enhancing digitization process. This paper presents several segments which show how the digitization process is improved within the project. Possibilities and practice of creation of master files of digital copies of important documents which contain colour and size references which began at the University Library "Svetozar Markovic" are described in the paper. Importance and selectivity of the application of this method and its consequences for digitization practice are also portrayed especially with regard to processes of long-term storing of digital copies. The need for the application of publicly available mechanisms for authentification of digital materials is defined and types of digital materials to which this method should be applied are considered as well as possibilities for the application of the model in practice. The paper outlines the need for the full searchability of digital text in materials which are presented to patrons and which portray the University Library "Svetozar Markovic" experience on the example of a searchable collection of historical newspapers. Two methods for creating searchable texts are outlined: via the creation of METS-ALTO files in case of printed materials and via automatic recognition of the handwritten text. The paper defines steps in the creation, long-term preservation and presentation of METS-ALTO files based on the University Library "Svetozar Markovic" experience and describes digital tools necessary for carrying out these steps, docWorks programme, a professional repository for long-term preservation and display of digital materials. Therefore and a system for searching and display of searchable texts developed by the University Library "Svetozar Markovic" in cooperation with the National Library of Luxembourg. The scope and possibilities for automatic recognition of the handwritten text based on the present experience coming from the participation of the University Library "Svetozar Markovic" in Horizon2020 READ are described and the digital tool Transcribus which is applied in the process. Finally, the needs of patron groups in working with digital materials and possibilities for their display and promotion in the modern business environment of libraries are analyzed. The paper describes in detail the experience of using the promotional device Magic Box at the University Library "Svetozar Markovic" and outlines analysis and scenarios of its application in cultural institutions. This paper is an overview of the possibilities and first experiences of improving digitization process which will mark the following development of the field in Serbia and the region.