Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is dedicated to preserving its rich cultural heritage through sustainable digitisation. The focus is on protecting unique written and audiovisual assets from damage, loss, or destruction, ensuring they remain accessible for future generations. The initiative underscores the state’s commitment to safeguarding these cultural treasures, which are found in archives, libraries, churches, and museums across the region.
The strategy emphasises the importance of digitalisation as a key tool for preservation. By converting cultural audiovisual assets into digital formats, not only is the original protected, but broader access to the information is enabled. This approach is seen as crucial in overcoming the challenges posed by the potential physical deterioration of cultural materials. The state’s constitution mandates the preservation and public accessibility of these assets, highlighting the public sector’s responsibility in this endeavour.
Central to this strategy are three competence centres designed to provide expertise and support. The State Office for Culture and Monument Preservation (LAKD) offers guidance on preserving written cultural assets, ensuring restoration work adheres to conservation standards. The university libraries in Greifswald and Rostock lead the digitisation efforts, managing the Digital Library Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. This online resource, launched in 2017, serves as a portal for accessing digitised cultural assets, aimed at both the general public and academic users.
The state’s approach also includes a digital artist archive to document and preserve the work of local artists, ensuring their legacies are accessible to the public. Selected works are recorded and made available through the Digital Library Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, providing a comprehensive view of the region’s artistic contributions.
This strategic approach to cultural preservation and sustainable digitisation reflects Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s commitment to protecting its cultural heritage while making it widely accessible in the digital age.
