Transforming ULB Libraries Digitisation Service: Going Beyond Scanning Our Own Collections to Also Become a Data Provider for Our Researchers

The ULB Libraries’ Digitisation Service has evolved from a basic scanning
unit into a comprehensive mass-digitisation infrastructure. Initially focused on
preserving and providing access to its own collections, the service expanded to
include large-scale projects, such as digitising Belgian press and literary journals.
Lessons from outsourcing challenges led to the development of an in-house
workflow, increasing efficiency and quality control. Today, the service aligns with
the collections as data paradigm, offering machine-readable digital corpora for
researchers. Collaboration with digital humanities initiatives ensures data acces-
sibility and interoperability. Preservation efforts are supported by the SAFE
distributed network, ensuring long-term digital sustainability. Optical Character
Recognition (OCR) and Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR) further enhance
accessibility. The service now integrates lean management principles to optimize
processes and meet researchers’ evolving needs. A Service Level Agreement
(SLA) ensures transparency and efficiency. This transformation positions ULB
Libraries as a key research data provider, fostering innovation and academic
collaboration