Integration of the module "virtual reading room" (VRR)

Aim of the project

The aim of the project is the creation, implementation and launch of a virtual reading room (VRR).

Description of the project

The ETH Zurich University Archives, the Max Frisch Archive (MFA) and the Thomas Mann Archives (TMA) are public archives that make the content they manage available to users in a reading room and, where possible, online in digital form. All three archives use the CMS AIS for the archive information system (AIS). Systems that are completely independent from the AIS are used for user management, which not allow a data exchange with the AIS. For this purpose, a new web client – the virtual reading room – is being set up to act as the interface.

The three participating archives have also been pursuing an aggressive digitisation strategy for several years. The ETH Zurich University Archives operate a long-term archive in the ETH Data Archive (the Rosetta repository) in collaboration with the Research Data Management and Digital Curation team.

Due to requirements regarding data protection, the protection of privacy, and administrative protection periods, as well as intellectual property right restrictions, part of the indexed archive content is closed to the public. Following approval by the respective copyright holders, authorised persons can view these restricted documents on-site in the reading room. None of the three archives currently offer restricted online access to protected genuinely digital archive content or digitised archive content. The project aims to make this possible. 

Time frame

2021–2023