Manuscriptorium is a system for collecting and making accessible on the internet information on historical book resources, linked to a virtual library of digitised documents. The Manuscriptorium service is financed by the National Library of the Czech Republic and managed by AiP Beroun s.r.o.
A digital library of manuscripts, old printed books and other scarce documents is in existence. Like any other library, it contains a catalogue – in this case the OCHBR (Open Catalogue of Historical Book Resources) and its own digital documents deposited in a data storage system. The OCHBR brings together information about physical documents (manuscripts etc.) in the form of catalogue records in XML format. The Repository contains digital copies of a subset of these catalogued documents, known as complex digital documents (CDD) As a matter of principle, the Manuscriptorium system stores the metadata centrally in the OCHBR and provides access to digitised documents held in the operator’s data storage facilities and in the remote storage facilities of its partners.
JThe basis has been laid, facilitating the collection of existing data and the provision of access to it. A further objective is the development of a virtual resaerch environment for the sphere of historical resources. Facilities for the digital presentation of these resources (images and text) and for rendering them accessible are being expanded. A virtual digital library of copies of images and full texts is being established. Links to further data of relevance to these resources are being provided (analyses, further descriptive metadata, further electronic documents/objects) and the provision of information to other systems is also being secured by means of standardised procedures (communication interfaces) (Z39.50, OAI-MPH)
Manuscriptorium is the outcome of activities begun under the auspices of the UNESCO „Memory of the World“ initiative in 1992. Subsequently, objectives were set for a Czech follow-up programme, Memoriae Mundi Series Bohemica (MMSB), and means of satisfying relevant current demands were identified and implemented. At an early stage the requirements for long term viability of the project were identified and objectives set for the development of an electronic research environment for the sphere of historical book resources. Manuscriptorium brings together information provided by collaborating partners, contributors from libraries, archives and museums.
Practical experience and the co-operation of experts in the technical field and in librarianship led to the formulation of the fundamental tenets underpinning Manuscriptorium..
We take the view that recent information about historical documents has been created in good faith and with the best of intentions, just as that of older provenance. Such information came into being at different times and under varying circumstances. The views and the extent of knowledge from which it was drawn were variable. However, all available information is of value, unless it is distorted and as long as it is documented. The purpose of our work is to ensure the accessibility of authentic existing information.
We have recognised the need for the strict separation of information per se from any form of instrument involved in its creation, its management and the form and manner in which it is rendered accessible. The existence and the usability of the information must be secured whenever tools are amended or replaced in any way.
The fundamental form of information preservation is XML files with a structure meeting the Library of Congress METS standard. For the preservation of descriptive metadata in the METS framework the MASTER standard is applied, specially developed by an international project team in co-operation with Oxford University Computing Services for the description of manuscripts, old printed books and other historical documents.
Information about historical resources is found in a great variety of systems; its content and structure is always very similar in parts. The detail of form and content naturally exert a considerable influence on the approach of researchers, archivists and librarians and the technology they use.
Whereas we do not wish to restrict or influence freedom to use and create information in any way, as a matter of principle we wish to obviate the need to be professionally bound by the demands of technology.
We consider our activities useful, but by no means unique. They offer a service ensuring that the data entrusted to us will be preserved for the future and also for their current accessibility. We therefore consider it essential to develop tools ensuring access to the collected data, both for our own end users and via services offered to other systems.
Manuscriptorium makes metadata available to the general public without restriction.
As a matter of principle, Manuscriptorium makes all data (images, sound, full text) freely accessible to its partners, and to others via a licence.
How far the general public is given free access to data in its fullest extent is a matter for the partner to decide.
