On the way to a digital archive: The example of Mannheim 1

[1] This article is based on a paper given at the Annual Conference of the Society of Archivists, 2005.

Abstract

As a municipal archive service, the Stadtarchiv Mannheim-Institut für Stadtgeschichte (Mannheim City Archives-Institute of City History) maintains close co-operation with the departments of Mannheim City Council. This has intensified since 1965, when the Records Centre (as a limbo repository) came into being.

 We made use of modern digital technology at a very early stage, and information technology is now considered to be a pillar of our everyday archival work. We have been concentrating on three main areas of activity, which are in the process of becoming linked:

1.	There are over 500,000 records in our main databank, known as FindStarOnline, and today we have the capability of fast access to nearly every one of the individual units held in this resource—from files and pictures to newspaper cuttings. In addition, this main databank is now available as a finding aid on Mannheim City Council's Intranet and will soon also be made available via the Internet.
2.	At the same time, the Stadtarchiv has started several digitisation projects. For example, over the last few years, large parts of our collections of pictures, posters and newspaper cuttings have been digitised.
3.	The Stadtarchiv is playing the lead role in the citywide introduction of a document management system (DMS).

One of our main concerns for the future is to integrate these areas further. It is therefore necessary to define existing and future interfaces, so as, eventually, to make optimum use of the advantages and the opportunities offered by each system. This will result in a digital archive which provides potential advantages and opportunities not only for the archives and their users, but also for all the participating departments of the City Council.

Notes

[1] This article is based on a paper given at the Annual Conference of the Society of Archivists, 2005.

[2] Gillen, Mannheimer Filmschätze 1907 – 1957. 14 historische Filme auf DVD.

[3] Nieß, ‘Das Mannheimer Zwischenarchiv. Eine Bilanz der ersten 30 Jahre.’

[4] Appel and Nieß, ‘Das Mannheimer Moderatorenmodell: Von der Datenmodellierung zur Online-Recherche.’

[5] Stockert, ‘FindStarOnline—Neue Dienstleistungen für die Verwaltung. Ein Werkstattbericht.’

[6] Popp, ‘DMS-Einführung in einer Kommunalverwaltung: Archivische Beteiligung und Erfahrungen.’

[7] Stockert, ‘Zwischenarchiv als strategische Chance für die archivische Zukunft im digitalen Zeitalter.’

[8] Nieß, ‘Sesam öffne dich oder Mannheims Kulturgüter in den digitalen Welten. Das Beispiel der Plakatsammlung des Stadtarchivs.’