Utrecht University Library signs Digital Heritage Network Manifesto

Utrecht University stands for open science: not just opening your results to anyone who wants them, but also the process of research and education itself. We also see this way of working at the Digital Heritage Network and it is therefore logical to become part of this network. 

Matthijs van Otegem, directeur van de Universiteitsbibliotheek Utrecht ondertekent het Manifest Netwerk Digitaal Erfgoed.
Dr. Matthijs van Otegem Director of Policy at Utrecht University Library signs the Digital Heritage Network Manifesto

Learning, sharing, and collaborating

Utrecht University Library likes to work together with others to offer users unlimited access to its collections. Preferably by using the applicable, common standards for this purpose and collaborating with other heritage institutions in innovative ways. That is why the University Library is happy to sign the Digital Heritage Network - Manifesto (in Dutch). Not only because it stands behind the Digital Heritage Strategy, but also because it wants to actively commit to the goals of the Digital Heritage Strategy (in Dutch).

Matthijs van Otegem, Director of Policy at Utrecht University Library says: "Sharing our heritage online with the multitude of possible groups who want to do something with it is a complex job. At the same time, it is a goal we share with many fellow institutions. This is why Utrecht University Library is pleased to join NDE. Learning, sharing, collaborating: together we will go further, and the users of our heritage then enjoy that in turn!". 

Learning, sharing, collaborating: together we will go further, and the users of our heritage then enjoy that in turn!

Digitising heritage treasures

Utrecht University Library houses a wealth of heritage. It owns not only old manuscripts that originally belonged to Utrecht monasteries and chapters in the Middle Ages, but also a large number of old and new maps, pamphlets, popular printed matter, archives of former professors, all kinds of modern sources, etc. For years, the library has been working to digitise, enrich, and make accessible this in-house heritage for teaching and research. Not only for staff and students at Utrecht University, but for other interested parties as well. By working according to the principles of Netwerk Digitaal Erfgoed digital heritage information can be made more visible, usable and sustainable. In this way, together we ensure the digital memory of the Netherlands.

Collega's van de Universiteitsbibliotheek en het Netwerk Digitaal Erfgoed bij de ondertekening van het Manifest Netwerk Digitaal Erfgoed op 18 oktober 2023
Colleagues from the Digital Heritage Network and the University Library at the signing of the manifesto.

Innovative Techniques

Utrecht University Library wants to contribute to knowledge sharing by using innovative tools, Open Source and Open Access applications offering access to its collections, and making its own digitised material visible, openly available and reusable as much as possible. Preferably by using common standards for this purpose.

Curator of printed works, Andrea van Leerdam, explains innovative research methods in heritage in the Special Collections map room.