Dear ladies and gentlemen,
Dear partners, friends and supporters of the German Digital Library,
Dear colleagues,
In the face of a year that was once again characterised by uncertainty, shock and aggression, it is difficult to write an atmospheric review of the year. In these turbulent times, we are very grateful to be driving forward a project with the German Digital Library that makes cultural heritage available to everyone. What a wonderful task! With this in mind, we look back on the year 2023.
The most important event for the German Digital Library was undoubtedly the completion of the project "User-oriented restructuring of the German Digital Library", financed by funds from the NEUSTART KULTUR programme of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media. We presented the results in a very prominent setting at the German Digital Library #RELAUNCHED event at the James-Simon-Galerie in Berlin. If you were unable to attend the (last public) event before the Pergamon Museum closes, we recommend the recording of the ceremony in front of the impressive Ishtar Gate.
Two short films offer you online insights into the new features of our portal: Features explains the most important innovations and services following the relaunch and Milestones traces the development of the German Digital Library - both in less than three minutes!
This major project was not the only way we presented ourselves this year. We were finally back at the Leipzig Book Fair and the 111th BiblioCon2023 in Hanover. Some things, after all, remain the same: great discussions, great colleagues and a great atmosphere!
Something else is new: for the first time, we have published content in plain language. Two extensive dossiers on the history of clothing and mobility with articles, picture galleries and games are now available to discover in plain language. The start has been made for a more inclusive and diversity-orientated approach - cultural heritage for all!
The virtual exhibitions remain our bestseller. With around 200 in total, the variety of topics is almost inexhaustible. Fantastic animal creatures, silhouettes by Annette von Droste-Hülshoff or Walter Benjamin's collection of children's books. This year we were able to realise three virtual exhibitions of our own: Stalingrad is dedicated to the battle of 1942/43 and its reception in the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR. We looked back 70 years on the popular uprising of 17 June 1953 as a symbol of civil courage and the fight for democratic freedom. And finally, the virtual exhibition Zeit aus den Fugen - das Krisenjahr 1923 was created in cooperation with the Federal Archives and with the kind support of the German Historical Museum. The parallels to 2023 are frightening. We are all called upon to take responsibility and take decisive action to counter these developments.
We also used the year to scrutinise our own communication via social media. As a public institution with public resources, using commercial social media channels is always a dilemma. We have reorientated ourselves and are adapting our activities - make social media beautiful (again)!
In November, the German Digital Library's competence network was also expanded. With the addition of the Museum für Naturkunde (Berlin), the Deutsches Museum and the LWL-Archivamt für Westfalen, a total of 18 institutions are now responsible for setting up and developing the German Digital Library. A warm welcome to the new member institutions and here's to a successful collaboration!
Finally, we would like to thank you all. Without you as our friends and supporters, your commitment and your perseverance, the German Digital Library would not have been able to develop as it has. We would like to thank you all for your support and your contribution!
With their data and information, our more than 1,100 partners from all cultural sectors form the basis for the richness and diversity of cultural heritage in the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek portal. We would like to thank them as well as our partners, friends and supporters - they have accompanied us with benevolent recognition, encouraging praise and valuable criticism.
Special thanks go to the team at the German Digital Library: our commitment and cooperation across all locations in Germany has once again carried us through this year - thank you all very much for that!
We wish you all all the best - good health, goodwill towards one another and consistency here and there! Please stay with us!
Your German Digital Library