Abstract:

Digitization is a key activity for archival institutions around the world. Despite some sceptical views, in the end the benefits are far too great to be overlooked. This is well understood by the Bulgarian state archives, which, admittedly, in recent years have established themselves as a leading institution in the country in terms of digitization of historical documents. The Bulgarian Archives State Agency has a well-established website with access to various digital platforms and collections created over the years. More importantly, the agency has a clear strategy and plan for selection of documents, undertakes digitization according to established international standards, which – thanks to its centralized structure – are relevant to all state archives in the country, which cannot be said about the library system and museums in Bulgaria, for example.

This, in the author’s opinion, is an important factor for the rapid, in quantitative and qualitative terms, digitization, in the absence of established inter-institutional professional organisations, which at least methodically could navigate and monitor the process, such as professional associations, for example.

This report will present the normative documents representing the basis on which the archives undertake digitization of records. The strategic goals of the agency in this direction are highlighted and an analysis of the results achieved so far is provided as well.

Some ideas for the future are also included and presented in this paper. Undoubtedly, the allocation of more funds for digitization is an important aspect, but it is far more important to take specific steps to promote good practices for digitization and to ensure the preservation of important historical documents among library and museum institutions. Thus, the state archives will take their natural role of leader among other institutions preserving the archival and literary heritage of Bulgaria.

Keywords:

Digitization, Bulgaria, strategies, Archives State Agency.