Flynn Carsen, a researcher of Metropolitan Library in New York, was tasked by his home scientific institution to study the manuscript of the breviary Liber viaticus, a document created in mid-14th century (by 1364 at the latest) for the Czech bishop John of Neumarkt. Carsen should publish the result of his work in an article in Metropolitan Library Magazine.

When looking for available information in literature and on the Internet, Carsen found that the manuscript was deposited in the National Museum Library in Prague under the shelf mark XIII A 12. Unfortunately, he also discovered that the reading room of the library was closed that year because of general reconstruction of the building. Is there any chance Carsen manages to get to the manuscript even if it is physically inaccessible now?

Luckily, Carsen is aware of the existence of the Index of Digitized Heritage, which makes available information about digitized historical documents and about persistent links to their digital copies.

Carsen will firstly use the application of Index of Digitized Heritage to look up whether Liber viaticus has been digitized. He will do this by entering a query in a simple on-line form where he gives the shelf mark and the location of the document. The application will then show basic information about the document, including its persistent identifier. At the same time, the application will offer links to existing similar digital copies through persistent links. The persistent identifier of the chosen digital copy makes an integral part of the link.

This link will lead Carsen to the digital library (www.manuscriptorium.com) which makes the document accessible. Carsen will not only be able to see the breviary of John of Neumarkt in its integrity, but he will also be able to use the link both in his article for Metropolitan Library Magazine and on the web page of Metropolitan Library in New York. At the same time, he can share the link with all his colleagues and friends on social networks.

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