manuscripta.se

A National Research Infrastructure for Medieval and Early Modern Manuscripts in Sweden

Presentation at KBlab, November 8, 2024

Dr Patrik Granholm, National Library of Sweden

Introduction

• National research infrastructure for medieval and early modern manuscripts in Sweden

• Developed and maintained by the National Library of Sweden

• Descriptions and digitisations of manuscripts dating from the 4th to the 19th century, mainly Greek, Latin, Old Swedish and Icelandic

  • 722 manuscripts (614 digitised)
  • ca 180 000 images

• The long-term aim is to include all medieval and early modern manuscripts in Sweden

• TEI is used for the manuscript descriptions
• IIIF for the digitised manuscript

Infrastructure

• Built entirely using open-source software
  • eXist-db, an XML database with indexing and search functionality, and functions for converting TEI to HTML
  • IIIF implementation using IIPImage Server and Mirador
  • Editing interface built with React.js
• Source code and TEI files available on GitHub
• Images available free of restriction (CC0 Public Domain)

New Data Model

Current Projects using manuscripta.se

• Swedish Post-medieval Manuscripts at the National Library of Sweden and Uppsala University Library – a cataloguing and digitization project

  • Cataloguing of ca 250 mss (38 digitised)

• Medieval Latin Manuscripts in the National Library: cataloguing and digitization

  • Cataloguing and digitisation of ca 200 mss

• Digitization of the West Norse Manuscripts in Swedish Collections

  • Digitisation of ca 400 mss and conversion of printed catalogue to TEI

Current Projects (continued)

• Nordic Law Books: The Production and Use of Vernacular Law Manuscripts in the North from 1100 to 1600

  • Cataloguing of Nordic law mss
    

• Riksantikvarieämbetets och Vitterhetsakademiens äldsta historia (The oldest history of the Swedish National Heritage Board and the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities)

  • Digitisation of ca 700 mss at the National Library and the Swedish National Heritage Board
    

Demo

Acknowledgments

manuscripta.se

patrikgranholm.com

patrik.granholm@kb.se