In the present there is a multitude of single projects which are conducted in selective cooperations, including often no more than two or three partners. Consequently many possible synergy effects are not being exploited, resulting in unused potentials. A strategic organization of the digitization process could achieve a more efficient investment of financial means, a higher technical standard, a better modality of presentation and a faster accomplishment of a largely completion of the digitization of this heritage which is geographically widely dispersed. For achieving this aim the concept of an International Working Group, which is to be formed in the near future, is discussed. (Paper given at the International Workshop "Digitizing German-language cultural heritage" in Regensburg, April 27-28, 2015: http://minorecs.hypotheses.org/137)

1. Concept for an International
Working Group
Coordinating the digitization of German-language
cultural heritage from Eastern Europe
Tillmann Tegeler / Albert Weber
April 28, 2015

2. Perspectives on a future implementation of a digitization
strategy
Tillmann Tegeler / Albert Weber | Concept for an International Working Group 2
Present: selective cooperations
Primary phase: International Working Group
Secondary phase: Central Office

3. Tasks of the International Working Group –
primary phase (I)
Tillmann Tegeler / Albert Weber | Concept for an International Working Group 3
Joint Policy Paper
► General guidelines of digitization (e.g. types of materials and quantity/type;
central presentation of digitized materials etc.)
► Formulation of demands for the later Central Office
Topography of the stocks of cultural materials
► Collecting information on the major and most fragile stocks in Germany and
Central/Eastern Europe (collecting of data mostly by surveys)
► Georeferencing of the data

4. Tasks of the International Working Group –
primary phase (II)
Tillmann Tegeler / Albert Weber | Concept for an International Working Group 4
Concept for a catalogue of digitized materials
Objectives: buildup of a information infrastructure; avoiding redundant
digitizations; devising a mature theoretical concept for the catalogue should
be ready to be later fully implemented by the Central Office
► Determining technical guidelines
► Defining selection criteria
► Setting of the organizational process of reporting of digitized materials
Building a weblog as an information infrastructure
Objective: providing information, supporting networking
► Presentation of major projects
► Information on conferences, workshops etc.
► Reference for various questions on digitization
► Informing the public on the issue of minority heritage

5. Tasks of the International Working Group –
primary phase (III)
Tillmann Tegeler / Albert Weber | Concept for an International Working Group 5
Political „lobbying“
Objective: political actors should support the digitization of the heritage of
ethnical minorities (in the present case German-language heritage)
► Political organizations of German-speaking minorities in Eastern Europe
should integrate digitization in their political program
► German newspapers in the region should report on digitized materials on a
regular basis (eventually workshops with journalists on ,digital culture‘)

6. Tasks of the International Working Group –
primary phase (IV)
Tillmann Tegeler / Albert Weber | Concept for an International Working Group 6
Opening of new funding prospects
Objective: the digitization of minority heritage must become a constant factor
of interest in the national digitization process in every country
► Formulating proposals for funding programs on national and European level
► Sensitization of the librarian and research community for the need of
digitizing and properly presenting minority heritage (as „digital minority
right“)
► Acquisition of funding for the establishment of the Central Office
Additional tasks:
► Investigating the various legal situations of copyright issues in Central and
Eastern European countries in order to digitize copyright protected materials
► Organizing future conferences, workshops etc.
► Seeking out viable possibilities of crowd sourcing

7. Tasks of the Central Office –
secondary phase (I)
Tillmann Tegeler / Albert Weber | Concept for an International Working Group 7
General concept: CO takes over the main tasks of the Working Group on a
more professionalized level
Main tasks:
► Joint Policy Paper => elaborated as official Digitization Strategy which is to
be regularly updated (following current technological trends, developments
or new research policies)
► Identification of priority stocks for digitization
► Substantial contribution to the coordination of projects (e.g. consulting)

8. Tasks of the Central Office –
secondary phase (II)
Tillmann Tegeler / Albert Weber | Concept for an International Working Group 8
Additional tasks:
► Projects for obtaining rights on copyright protected materials
► Initiating projects on „advanced“ digitization (Mobile Apps, 3D-modeling
etc.)
► Seeking out possible connections with German-language communities in other
regions (e.g. North and South America)

9. Conclusion
 Conceiving and implementing a digitization strategy needs
institutionalized structures which are highly professionalized on this
purpose
 Implementation is not possible without contribution and
intercommunication of various international partners
 Raising awareness on multiple levels for the digitization of minority
heritage is a key aspect
Tillmann Tegeler / Albert Weber | Concept for an International Working Group 9

10. Tillmann Tegeler / Albert Weber | Concept for an International Working Group 10
Thank you for your attention!
tegeler@ios-regensburg.de
weber@ios-regensburg.de