The Terezín Memorial´s new Digitalization Center launched its operation as part of the project called Digitizing Collections in April 2021. The project is supported by the Claims Conference grant Shoah Research, Education and Documentation.
Thanks to the grant, the Center has been equipped with a scanner, complete with LIMB support program, making it possible to produce high-quality scans of 2D objects up to format size A2 and smaller 3D items. Moreover, the scanner is equipped with what is known as a V-shaped book cradle for considerate digitalization of books and bound magazines. The OCR technology allows for processing some printed and typewritten texts, making them later accessible to users in the shape of full-text search. The Terezín Memorial has been digitizing its collections for several years now; with the help of the new scanner digitalization is guaranteed to achieve much better quality, offering the public/users a wide spectrum of possibilities both in accessing and in utilizing collection items.
The so-called Heřman Collection, which is in great demand among researchers, figures prominently among the first items from the Memorial´s collections to be scanned in the center. Also scanned are collection photographs and also items whose scans have been missing so far. Scanning of all the other parts of the Terezín Memorial´s collections will follow. As for 3D exhibits, scans will be made of smaller souvenirs (various hearts, bracelets, pendants) and minor objects of daily use, such as, e.g. small knives or tools.
A great part of the scans thus made will be available on the Terezín Memorial´s web pages in the newly prepared databases featuring its collection items. The only unavailable scans will be those of items protected by copyright and those for which the Memorial has not received permission for publication from their authors or heirs.
Iva Gaudesová, Tomáš Raichl
