Category Archives: Case Studies

Falcons for the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan

Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan

As a central government agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Justice, based in the capital Tashkent, has been tasked with consistently implementing a uniform state policy in the field of law and practice since the country gained independence in 1991. Special attention is given to the observance of democratic values and the protection of human rights, which are anchored in the constitution, as well as the full development of civil society in order to strengthen its legal framework. The ministry has offices in all 12 regions of Uzbekistan and collects legal and historically relevant public documents.

 

 

Project background

In order to simplify administrative processes, to facilitate the access to documents for the employees and thereby improving the services for the Uzbek population, the Ministry of Justice has decided to start the extensive project of digitizing 160 million bound documents. These documents contain personal data of the Uzbek population spanning three generations. One of the major challenges of the project was that these documents were kept in 248 different locations across the country. In addition, the binding of Asian government documents differs from the European one, which makes it difficult for conventional scanners to capture information in the critical book fold area. The age and fragility of some documents also posed additional challenges.

BOOK2NET ACTION

Since the Ministry of Justice was already familiar with the book2net team and the quality of the book2net scanners from previous projects, the Uzbek government was able to make a quick decision to cooperate again with us on this demanding project. The book2net team gladly accepted the logistical and qualitative challenge and initially developed and supplied two Falcon scanners to assess the situation. Based on the experience with these two units, it was possible to develop a customized solution that included all the aspects required.

Falcon is a small and mobile V-shape book scanner, ideally suited for the gentle digitization of bound stocks up to A4 + format, which can only be scanned with a small opening angle. The glass plate is cut to an angle of 55 °, thus ensuring that all information in the book fold can be correctly captured. At the same time, the Falcon is designed as a production scanner for high throughput and meets the demanding requirements of a long-term project. The ergonomic design makes it easier for the user to work on the device.

During the test phase, our book2net experts determined that it would be much more comfortable to transport the scanner to the documents instead of coordinating their transport to a central location. Therefore, the Falcon was designed as an out-of-the-box solution that can be easily operated by all employees of the ministry: The scanner’s special transport box also serves as a support table, so that the scanner must only be unpacked and connected to a computer.

Results

Book2net delivered the devices to the individual locations and carried out on-site training for the employees. The Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan was therefore able to start the project as planned. According to feedback from the ministry, the digitization will be also completed in the planned period, as all devices are working smoothly. We are incredibly pleased to have made our contribution to this important, community-oriented project.

See the Falcon

Further Case Studies

Installation at the Mohammed bin Rashid Library Dubai

Installation at the Mohammed bin Rashid Library Dubai

In 2016, the government in Dubai began planning a new building for the library, which was founded in 1981. The architecturally ambitious building is reminiscent of a lectern or an open book. With a holdings of over 4.5 million media, the new building will house the largest library in the Arab world. At the same time, it will also have the highest technological standard: over 2 million e-books alone are made accessible by 2020.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Library in Numbers

media

construction cost

expected per year

 

Project background

Since the new library was to be equipped according to the highest technological standards, the most modern digitization solutions were searched for by tendering. Through our partner Naseej, the leading provider of digital transformation solutions in the Middle East, we were able to take part in the tender and convince due to the high quality of our products.

book2net action

Trotz erheblicher Einschränkungen aufgrund der Covid-19-Pandemie konnten die insgesamt 25 book2net Buchscanner im September 2020 ausgeliefert werden. Innerhalb von zehn Tagen wurden alle Geräte durch unsere Techniker vor Ort installiert. Das Bibliothekspersonal und die Mitarbeiter von Naseej wurden für den Umgang mit den verschiedenen Geräten sorgfältig geschult, um künftig ein reibungsloses Arbeiten in der Bibliothek zu gewährleisten.

Systems used

Cobra A1 Flash A1 Dragon Repro stand Hornet A0 Spirit

Results

The 25 book2net scanners not only make a fundamental contribution to the digitization of the valuable holdings, but also support the employees to a large extent in everyday library life. Especially against the background of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, they help to carry out online services reliably.

About Hornet A0

FURTHER CASE STUDIES

LMU

Long-term cooperation with the LMU

The Ludwig Maximilian University

The Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) is known throughout Europe as a renowned educational institution rich in tradition. Founded in 1472 , the LMU is one of the oldest and largest universities in Germany. As one of the elite universities in the country, the LMU is also one of Europe’s leading research institutions. With its highly diversified array of disciplines, it has outstanding potential for pioneering research.

The Ludwig Maximilian University in numbers

students

media

sites

 

Project background

The LMU library, including the central library and another 14 branch libraries, holds approximately 5 million media and is thus one of the largest university libraries in Germany. It is a modern center of information transfer for science, research and teaching.

To implement a digitization program that would make the extensive inventory accessible to students through self-service systems and also be sustainable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly, the LMU looked for a suitable solution by tendering.

book2net action

In order to successfully implement the LMU’s digitization program, book2net began installing several self-service scanners from the Public and Spirit series in 2009. More than 40 of these devices can now be found in the faculties and branch libraries, helping the students to digitize books independently.

To date, hardly any maintenance work has been necessary, although the number of scans generated by some devices now exceeds five million. The first ten systems from 2009 are still in continuous use. Reliability and durability of the devices, as well as mutual trust, are the basis of our long-term successful partnership.

About the spirit advance About the kiosk public

Further case studies

Hessian State Archives Wiesbaden exterior view

Archive Pro at the Hessian State Archives

German Federal
Document Safeguarding
Project

According to the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property, the German Federal and State Archives have scanned and microfilmed their most valuable collections since 1961. The microfilming is carried out on behalf of the Federation under the leadership of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK). The archive material is security-filmed on microfilm in accordance with selection criteria defined by the Federal Government and in compliance with specified technical standards.
Hessian State Archives Wiesbaden exterior view

“Regarding the German Federal Safeguarding Project, I can look back on a very successful year, in which you and your company played a major role.”

Dr. Johann Zilien
The Hessian State Archives, Wiesbaden

The Hessian State Archives in numbers

film containers

expected
storage

microfilm material

 

Project background

As part of the conversion of the microfilming devices to digital technology, which was agreed between the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) and the Conference of Heads of the Federal and State Archives Administrations (KLA), four of the German state archives involved have already decided to purchase a total of 12 book2net high-performance archive scanners.

Cobra A1 System im Hessischen Staatsarchiv

book2net action

The state archives of Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine Westphalia and the Secret State Archives Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation are the first institutions to have opted for our newly developed high-performance archive scanner book2net Archive Pro. The Archive Pro, developed in close cooperation with our customers as a hybrid scanning system, combines the functionality of a variable repro system with the user-friendliness, reliability and performance of an archive scanner. This unique versatility is particularly advantageous when digitizing heterogeneous collections. From mass digitization to individual conservational scans: As single device, the book2net Archive Pro covers a large number of tasks that would otherwise require different special scanners.

Results

The first systems have been in use since the beginning of 2020. The projects were awarded in the course of tenders, in which, despite cheaper competitive products, we were able to prevail due to our unique technical features, versatility and outstanding quality.

About the Archive Pro

systems used


8 archive scanners

Archive Pro A2


2 archive scanners

Ultra A2


1 V-shape archive scanner

Cobra A1


1 reprographic camera

X71 camera

Further case studies

Multispectral Imaging System at The National Archives

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.”

“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

years of British history

of shelving

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.

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

Collection Care welcomes a new multispectral imaging system

Smoke and mirrors:

Revealing the Gunpowder Plot through heritage science

Watermarks:

New ways to see and search them

Further case studies

Two Mosquito for the Royal Library of Denmark

Two Mosquito for the Royal Library of Denmark

Det Kongelige Bibliotek, the Royal Library of Denmark is the Danish National Library and also the University Library of the University of Copenhagen. It is the largest library in Scandinavia and also one of the largest in the world. Today, the library has five sites, the major ones being in Copenhagen and Aarhus and holds many unique manuscripts, for example by famous Danish fairytale author H. C. Andersen.

“We are quite pleased with the results. The devices have done a great job so far!”

Martin Lund
Digitalisierungsspezialist

The Royal Library in numbers

print media

electronic media

digitized newspaper pages

 

Project background

For a long time the Royal Library had focused on microfilming in order to make their vast collections, especially the extensive newspaper stocks, available via the Mediestream.dk platform. When the Library decided to take their digitization program one step further, they issued a tender for large format devices. book2net was able to provide them with exactly what they needed.

book2net Action

When the two book2net Mosquito scanners were installed in 2016, intensive training was carried out for the library staff to ensure that they are no longer dependent on the help of external specialists when carrying out projects with our scanners.

Results

To date our two book2net Mosquito scanners have been used at the Aarhus site to fill gaps in the existing microfilm archive for newspapers. They also helped to establish a “scan-on-demand” service for library visitors. Over 300,000 newspaper pages have been digitized so far and made available via mediestream.dk.Mediamstream.dk zur Verfügung gestellt.

See Mosquito

Further case studies

rish Architectural Archive exterior rear view

A1 Repro Stand at the Irish Architectural Archive

Image Quality meets Cost Efficiency at the Irish Architectural Archive

Cartlann Ailtireachta na hÉireann, the Irish Architectural Archive, was established in 1976 to collect and preserve material of every kind relating to the architecture of Ireland and make it available to the public. With 2.5 million drawings ranging in date from the late seventeenth to the twentieth centuries the collection of the Irish Architectural Archive includes the most significant body of historic Irish architectural drawings in the world. Also housed in the Archive are
500,000 photographs, making this one of the largest collections of photographs in Ireland.
rish Architectural Archive exterior rear view

“We are delighted with the X71. The results are beyond our highest expectations.”

Colum O’Riordan
CEO, Irish Architectural Archive

The Irish Architectural Archive in numbers

drawings and documents

photographs

books and journals

 

Project background

Until the end of 2017 the Irish Architectural Archive was working with photographers for commissioned work on demand, which was associated with high costs per item. Thanks to grants from the Department of Culture and an architect whose collection the Archive is holding in their premises, the Irish Architectural Archive was able to invest in their own digitization equipment,

A1 reprosystem im Irish Architectual Archive

book2net action

The installation of an A1 repro system equipped with our X71 camera in April 2018 was the starting point for the digitization of the collection, with the architecture publications from the Rowan collection being scanned first for a current exhibition project. It soon became clear that working with the book2net system was the most productive solution, enabling forensic analyses due to the excellent image quality. The high resolution of the X71 camera made even the finest lines on the originals visible and made it possible to produce high-quality enlargements for printing exhibition posters.

Results

First results with enhanced image analysis have been successfully achieved. The Irish Architectural Archive is now able to open its collection to the wider public and scholars. The next major project will be the digitization of the outstanding photographic collection, which holds about 500.000 items and is one of the largest in Ireland.

About the repro stand

Further case studies