IdH

Index of Digitized Heritage

v 0.9.1 beta

Available Services

End-User Services

If the user knows the manuscript location data obtained from the library system, a printed catalogue or a reference in a scientific text and enters them in the IdH, the system provides a persistent link to the digital copy (copies) of the item concerned. In addition, it may refer the user to the respective online digital library.

The system provides these services according to both currently valid and invalid location data. If, for instance, a manuscript has been moved to another institution, the query may include any previous or the currently valid one.

Services for Partner Systems (Interoperability)

For electronic catalogues, thematic portals and other specialised electronic information sources, we are offering developers an application interface and a URI resolver to respond to queries about existing digital copies of manuscripts.

The query is always based on the information on the location of the copy concerned; the response are persistent links to (an) existing digital copy (copies) and links directly to specific online digital libraries.

Services for Data Producers

We are offering data developers and administrators the possibility to enter their own digital documents in the IdH list, to register even a manuscript (or another historical document) that has not been digitised yet and thus to provide it with an identification code based on the place of its deposition and to administer concordance records for their own documents.


The Basic Principles

Manuscripts and other unique early printed items are only identifiable by location data.
These comprise:

and are only valid in the specific time period in which the document is administered in the location in question.

For every document entered in the system, we manage and complement this information – we are thus permanently able to identify a physical copy and its digital representations.

System Overview

Index of Digitized Heritage

In this list of digitised documents belonging to particular registered physical copies, each digital document has a unique identifier.

Written Heritage Digital Concordance

Since the identification of a document (manuscript) in only valid in a certain time period, we use Digital Concordances to keep records of the time of the placement of the particular copy in the given place of deposition.

Registry of Written Heritage Repositories

Since our experience has shown that the place of deposition may not necessarily be a library or another institution entered in official lists (but, for example, parts of institutions and other places), we have introduced and managed our own list of the places of deposition and their identifiers. This is a complex service and a relatively robust subsystem of the entire solution.

Digitized Heritage URI Resolver

The resolver manages persistent links and redirects users to current document representations in specific digital libraries.

Digitized Heritage Interoperability API

A clearly organised application interface to increase the Cultural Herritage environment interoperability.


Find out more

about location data based physical and digital documents' identification

Cooperation

The IdH system has integrated the experience gained by the National Library of the Czech Republic in the last 20 years of the digitisation of rare historical materials as well as current research and development results. The system is ready for use; it is being filled with the first data.

The National Library of the Czech Republic provides the full range of IdH services, including user, technical and content-administration support.

The quality of the services is directly dependent on the quantity and quality of the content. Therefore, content providers, join us!

Sustainability

The National Library of the Czech Republic ensures the sustainability of the system and the provision of the full range of IdH services, including user, technical and content-administration support.

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