Digitization
- Digitization of documents and photos,
- Digitization of microfilms and microtapes.
The National Archives of Armenia started digitization works in 2009, first with a pilot program, then with the main one, and has many years of experience in this field. Up to now, more than 825,000 documents have been digitized.
About 1,800 funds of the National Archives of Armenia store 350 million paper documents.
The general digitization process enables us to preserve electronic versions of original documents, limit their utilization and use of digitized copies, speed up the work of employees, and make it more efficient. The digitization process in the National Archives of Armenia is carried out through two equally important processes: mapping and scanning.
Mapping is a brief description of the content of a document in the form of a card. The card includes the import of document data (place of creation, time, type, authenticity, language, creator and addressee, events mentioned in the document, and search paths) and the inclusion of brief content and keywords (mentioned persons, place names, and other search words).
Scanning is the creation of electronic copies of archival documents and pictures using scanners. The scanned documents are attached to the card made on the same basis (fund, list, case, and newspaper) with the same content so that it is possible to find the card with the content of the given document by searching for content and keywords and view its electronic copy next to it.
The National Archives of Armenia currently has 15 modern scanners designed for scanning archival documents, books, large-format projects, and maps which can scan in different formats. There is also equipment for digitizing microtapes and films digitizing the relevant cinema and photo documents.
The National Archives of Armenia can accept digitization orders in JPEG, TIFF, and PDF formats on a paid basis within the framework of the functions of this department. We also have the format to create a multi-page PDF file in combination with an OCR program.
1․ Digitization of documents and photographs
Digitization of documents and photographs consists of the following stages:
- Preparation of originals of documents and pictures for digitization: checking of physical condition, numbering, etc.
- Preparation of the scanner for digitization works, adjustment of light, scanning platform, and adaptation to the type of the given document or picture.
- Processing and renaming of digitized document files.
The digitalization process is carried out by the experienced employees of the IT and electronic database creation department. International experience and standards are taken into account during the entire process. Scanning is performed at a resolution of 300-1200 DPI, depending on the physical characteristics, dimensions, quality, purpose, and requirements of the document. For security reasons, digitized copies are stored on the server and used on demand.
2․ Digitization of microfilms and tapes
Digitization of cinema documents (films, newsreels, and animated films).
Digitization of cinema documents consists of the following stages:
- Preparation of film tapes for digitization: cleaning, rewinding, checking for moisture and dryness, and repairing if necessary,
- Preparation of film digitization equipment (digitizing equipment and computers), program verification, and technical regulation,
- Digitization of cinema documents, an adaptation of frames to image and sound, and editing of digitized files with computer programs,
- Transferring the final results of the digitized cinema documents to the server.
Digitization of photo documents (positive, tape, and with glass bases)
- Selection, ordering, preparation of photo documents for digitization according to historical-cultural value and socio-political significance, and checking of physical condition,
- Preparation of the scanner for digitization works, adjustment of light, scanning platform, and adaptation to the type of the given photo document.
- Digitization of photo documents with a resolution of 300-1200 DPI, depending on the physical characteristics, dimensions, quality, purpose, and requirements of the document.
- Transfer of digitized photo documents to the server.