The Project of Historical and Cultural Heritages Developed in the Institute of History & Philology – Digital Archive for the Rare Books of the Fu Ssu-Nien Library |
I. Archives in the Fu Ssu-Nien Library The rare book collections in the Fu Ssu-Nien Library (FSNL) are of great value and relevance to sinologists all over the world. These rare book collections include: The goal of the FSNL’s digitization project is to provide for the best possible preservation of the rare books mentioned above, as well as to provide readers and scholars with the easiest access to these works. The FSNL has been working on two topics common to all project participants: the digitization of Ming-edition works by Ming literati and the digitization of illustrations in antique books. Furthermore, in relation to its particular collections, and with an eye to integrating digitized images with common research topics, the FSNL has also selected its own targets for digitization, including materials pertaining to medical sciences, archaeology, and inscriptions from metal and stone wares. Our goal is to allow readers and scholars to find a majority of the sources pertaining to significant research topics in only one search. In addition to digitizing the various materials mentioned above, our project also attempts to establish an integrated, automatic system which includes scanning, proofreading, and image quality control procedures, image and metadata databases, and access and security control procedures.
1.The Database System for the Fu Ssu-Nien Library Rare Books Catalogue (Free access) The Fu Ssu-Nien Library Database System includes a catalogue of rare books, ancient string -bound books, bronze and stone rubbings, vernacular literature, and other catalogued materials. Readers can browse the online catalogue freely without special authorization from the FSNL. As of the end of December, 2006, 104,234 records had been compiled in the online catalogue system: 13,282 are rare book records, 47,622 are ancient string-bound book records, 22,557 are bronze and stone rubbings records, and 20,773 are vernacular literature records.
The Fu Ssu-Nien Library develops and builds the Digital Archives System for the Rare Books of the Library based on past experiences and work with digital systems and archives. The System integrates with other related archive systems by means of a specialized design and in order to meet the needs of different users. We divide the system into three levels for different types of use: research, educational, and public. The System provides the most complete information for research use. For educational use, it offers information with flexibility according to the needs of school curricula. Finally, information provided for public use gives users a basic understanding and knowledge of the rare books collected in the Fu Ssu-Nien Library.
This Database System is constructed to compile all of the seals found on rare books and rubbings and to analyze and reorganize the inscribed seals of original collectors, appreciators, and inscription-makers. The Database System also focuses on seal cutting calligraphy and the aesthetic beauty of seals.
The purpose of this system is to compile all of the names of people appearing in ancient literature and to develop biographical sketches for these people and gather their writings. The System currently consists of four sections:
This particular system is meant to work in concert with authority data for the names of people contained within two of the FSNL’s digital archive projects: the Writings of Ming Dynasty Literati and the Seals Collected at the Fu Ssu-Nien Library, as well as to illustrate— on historical maps—the activities of people and the information provided by the authors and inscribers of seals.
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