Antique books

One of the most important objectives of any library is to disseminate knowledge, and this goal may also be achieved through the digitization of ancient texts. Although there is no lack of text-format digitization projects, libraries usually tend to see the success of their mission realized through the conversion of their documents into digital format. This is the direction also taken by the Biblioteca Claudia Augusta library.

The digitization of antique books is of prime importance to libraries for two main reasons: access and preservation. Digital access assures once unthinkable availability of the bibliographical material, thus liberating antique texts from their previous geographical isolation by making them accessible on-line in a digital library open to anyone accessing it from anywhere. The original instead can be reserved for purely scientific studies and limited consultation, otherwise remaining stored in the most suitable lighting, temperature and humidity conditions.

What deserves to be digitized? It is a librarianship issue. The Biblioteca Claudia Augusta library has decided to create a section of local digitized storage dedicated to documents pertaining to local history. Considering the mission of our library, priority was given to the digitization of books on local subjects most damaged or recently restored, so as to prevent further damage to their pages or bindings with repeated use. Indeed, the main objective of this project is not only to bring back to light the oldest or the most curious works but also to allow everyone access to a highly precious bibliographic legacy and to preserve it for future generations. The books now available in digital format are high-quality hard copies that are difficult to find on the antiques market. They have all been published in the Triveneto area in the period from the 17th to the 19th centuries and deal about the Tyrol region and its surrounding areas in terms of history, religion, archaeology and science. The rich collection of books in our library is used for university degree theses and for research doctorates and are an irreplaceable source of information for scholars in the local history of Trentino and South Tyrol and more in general of ancient Tyrol.

The antique and modern documents owned by the Biblioteca Claudia Augusta library become, through digitization, virtual objects with new communication potential, namely as sources of information and as consumer products, thus brilliantly bringing together modern technology and antiquity.