Author Archives: Douae

The National Archives Außenansicht Eingang
Case Studies

MSI at The National Archives

Posted on by Douae

Multispectral Imaging System at The National Archives

Guarding over a thousand years of national documents, The National Archives take a special role in the preservation of its country’s history. They are the official publisher for the UK government, England, and Wales, and emerged between 2003 and 2006 as a joined cooperation between four government organizations: the
Public Record Office, the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, and the Office of Public Sector Information. Today, they collect and manage government information, maintaining
everything from “Shakespeare’s will to tweets from Downing Street.”
The National Archives Außenansicht Eingang

“We are very pleased with the results so far […]. Ensuring access to our collection is central to our mission, so revealing text that has faded beyond our physical ability to read is a significant advancement for our team and our audiences.”

The National Archives Blog, June 2019

The National Archives in numbers

1,000

years of British history

185 km

of shelving

11 million+

objects

 

Project background

With a comprehensive collection of manuscripts, maps and documents, The National Archives are keen on guaranteeing thorough object preservation as well as providing extensive research opportunities. In search of a Multispectral Imaging System (MSI) which would be accessible by all staff members instead of imaging specialists only, TNA issued a corresponding tender. With the help of the MSI they hoped to increase the readability of manuscripts written in faded ink, identify unknown pigments for restoration and detect underdrawings and hidden layers in paintings. Winning the tender, book2net enabled TNA to do so.

Sichtbarmachung von Schrift und Tinten mit dem book2net Multispektral System

Book2Net Action

By installing our innovative Multispectral Imaging System in March 2019 and instructing the staff on how to operate the system, TNA were given a handy equipment for digitization and restoration. The bespoke solution now continues to simplify archivists’ lives and gives them a new research tool. The next large project that was enabled is the “BT 43 Designs on Demand” project, with almost 3 million designs to be evaluated.

Results

First results have been achieved, such as the identification of a pigment in the BT registers. Also, the legibility of old documents written in iron gall ink was successfully increased and has therefore been of great help to researchers. Satisfied with the equipment, the National Archives can now embark on a journey to restoration and research.

about the mutlispectral imaging system

The National Archives blog entries

Sichtbarmachung von Schrift und Tinten mit dem book2net Multispektral System

Collection Care welcomes a new multispectral imaging system

Sichtbarmachung von Schrift und Tinten mit dem book2net Multispektral System

Smoke and mirrors:

Revealing the Gunpowder Plot through heritage science

Wasserzeichen book2net Multispektral System

Watermarks:

New ways to see and search them

Case Studies

Cooperation with the National Library of Uzbekistan

Posted on by Douae

Cooperation with the National Library of Uzbekistan

Video

The State Library of the Republic of Uzbekistan, founded in 1870 as the Tashkent Public Library, is Uzbekistan’s legal deposit library. In 1920, the then “State Public Library of Uzbekistan” became the legal deposit for Turkestan publications. In 1947 it was renamed Ali-Shir Nava’i Library after the Uzbek poet. On April 12, 2002 it was renamed the National Library of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The National Library in numbers

6.5 MIO
publications
11
major reading halls
160,000+
visitors per year

Project background

Since 2016, Uzbekistan has been pursuing a comprehensive digitization strategy in the area of its administration and public services under President Mirziyoyev. This was significantly supported by LG Electronics, which carried out the tenders for major projects on behalf of the Uzbek government. The development of the digital competencies of the National Library is an essential part of this process, in the course of which 60 new jobs were created. With regard to the necessary equipment, book2net met and even exceeded all requirements given in the corresponding tender and won the bit. In the summer of 2018, the first shipment of more than 30 book scanners arrived in Tashkent, where the devices were installed by our team. In 2019, new need for devices for the National Library branch offices around the country arose. Once again, book2net was able to convince, securing a shipment of 25 new book scanners to the country. The National Library intends to digitize its entire stock of books, newspapers and photographs, making them accessible to the Uzbek public via their website. Thus, important cultural heritage from Uzbek history is preserved and made accessible to the local and rural communities all over the country.
book2net Flash in der Nationalbibliothek von Usbekistan
book2net Cobra V-Scanner in der Nationalbibliothek Usbekistan
book2net Profi A2 Buchscanner mit Makrolonplatte

book2net Action

With both customized and standard solutions, book2net managed to fulfill all demands and could effectively contribute to the country’s digitization process. In 2018 and 2019, 60 of our proven systems, including the X71 camera, the large-format scanners Hornet A0 and Flash A1, the Cobra V-shape system and the self-service scanners Public A2 and Spirit A3, were delivered to Tashkent and several other locations all over the country. All devices were installed by our technicians and the local staff was trained extensively to assure high-quality digitization.

systems used

X71 camera Hornet A0 Flash A1 Cobra Profi A2 Spirit A3

Results

The book2net team is proud to have made an important contribution to the digitization of Uzbekistan’s literary heritage that will now be available to a broad public as well as for further scientific research.

Watch the use of our equipment in the digitization center of the National Library in the video:

Video

The valuable rare books and manuscripts can be accessed as full-text versions via a dedicated database:

see database