Partnership project has digitized more than 2 million Vatican cultural assets
NTT DATA has developed the AMLAD digital archiving solution, used to digitize and archive the cultural heritage of the Vatican Library. With more than 2 million assets, the solution aims to cover digital copies of around 1.6 million books, 80,000 manuscripts and 300,000 coins and medals, which will help preserve them.
Cultural assets located in libraries and museums show the evolution of human history, but are constantly at risk of deterioration. Thus, digitization represents an opportunity for its maintenance and preservation, which is why NTT DATA created AMLAD for the digital archiving of 2D and 3D data.
AMLAD marks the future of digital archives. It was designed not just for the preservation of documents, but for their use. Therefore, it is focused on facilitating search systems, fast location of data and documents. AMLAD was also designed to make these resources available to researchers anywhere in the world, so that they can explore the library's digitized content, regardless of their location.
In addition, the solution stores data according to international data structures, complying with the library's classifications and standards, as well as the Vatican library's own rules.
“There is a wealth of valuable cultural property held in cultural institutions around the world. However, you can only see them by going there, and even when you are there, it is very difficult to find what you are looking for,” says Asahi Hasebe, head of the AMLAD project at NTT DATA. "However, if digital data is properly archived, everyone can find and view whatever they want, no matter where they are."
Mauro Mantovani, Director of the Vatican Library, comments: “In the same line and in continuity with the director emeritus, Monsignor Cesare Pasini, I believe that our cultural heritage requires careful attention for its preservation. The AMLAD digital archiving solution has contributed to the preservation of these extremely valuable cultural assets without causing any harm. NTT DATA has played an important role in supporting our mission at the Vatican Library to publish contributions collected from around the world, regardless of race, lineage, culture, religion, politics or ideology, and in supporting scientific research and development.”
The Vatican Library digitization project began in 2014 and in February, NTT DATA launched with the Library the first project to expand its online community, connecting it with its users. This initiative is designed to reward supporters who share the project on their social channels or show their support for the Vatican Library, using NFTs and blockchain technology. Possession of these NFTs allows access via the web to high-resolution images of 15 cultural heritage items owned by the library, along with their explanatory texts. NTT DATA developed this project to create a new connection between the Vatican Library and its supporters.
Asahi Hasebe explains that “Web3 technology, with its characteristics such as immutability, permanence and free use, is perfect for creating connections and communities based on individual goals and trust”. According to him, in this sense, “creating new connections and communities based on digital content is nothing more than 'using' these expected digital files. By exploring the value and importance of Web3 in society, I believe this project has the potential to be the first use case of the Web3 era.”
