Digitised books now available via the »Europeana« database
Whereas the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (DDB) is a central jumping-off point for all types of digital objects – from books to manuscripts, letters, maps, paintings and photographs – Europeana is a reservoir for digital collections on the European level. Metadata from the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar library is now available on this platform.
From 2009 to 2012, the University Library with project support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), digitised 1,471 volumes with a total of 423,185 pages from its historical collection and, where copyright law permitted, has made the digital editions available on the internet. The metadata from these books and newspapers has been accessible on the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek since January 2014. Through the DDB, these data have now been passed on to Europeana.
»Libraries,« says Frank Simon-Ritz, Director of the Weimar University Library, »are also working in an increasingly digital environment. In this connection, it is important that libraries take it upon themselves to contribute their share to the digitisation of cultural property.« In doing so, he added, it is critical that the data and objects be visible and searchable on portals such as the DDB or Europeana.
Last year, the library counted 14,249 visits to its digital collection platform. A total of 3,411 documents were downloaded during those visits. Among the favourites downloaded last year was a 1926 publication on Prussian construction police law by Constanz Baltz.
This publication can be accessed in the digital libraries under the following links:
Europeana:
http://www.europeana.eu/portal/record/2048426/item_6QX2ZOSF6N32V6EXXPZU5OXDYF42VFWC.html
Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek:
https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/item/6QX2ZOSF6N32V6EXXPZU5OXDYF42VFWC
Digital collections of the University Library:
http://goobipr2.uni-weimar.de/viewer/ppnresolver?id=PPN663759420
Dr. Simon-Ritz is pleased to help with any inquiries. You can reach him at:
University Library of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Dr. Frank Simon-Ritz, Director
Tel.: +49 (0) 36 43 / 58 28 00
E-Mail: frank.simon-ritz[at]uni-weimar.de