Copied books to be digitalized

The Early Manuscripts Electronic Library (EMEL) will work with the Matenadaran in the digitalization of old books copied by hand (before the existence of printing presses). The number of these books, according to Matenadaran director Hrachia Tamrazyan, reaches around 100.

Representatives of EMEL, during a recent visit in Yerevan, attained a preliminary agreement to start bringing the needed equipment for digitalization to the Matenadaran by next year, so that the digitalization of manuscripts would then take place in Yerevan, and to keep the copies only at the Matenadaran. In other words, in the words of the museum’s director, the American organization will have nothing to do with the looking after of the manuscripts.

The up-to-date equipment, with their infrared and purple beams, will make the lower layers of the manuscripts both visible and legible. Experts from the organization will teach Armenian experts how to operate the digitalization equipment. EMEL also plans similar projects in neighboring Georgia.

We remind that in May of this year the Matenadaran considered the contract with the American Hill organization to digitalize Armenian manuscripts as null and void. For this purpose, the Matenadaran plans to create working groups of experts to study the issue of doing the digitalizing in Armenia.

In any event, the Armenian National Archives are in discussions with French and German organizations about the importance of digitalization and the bringing of equipment to Armenia for this process.