The methodological problems of creating a digital thematic repository of historical cartographic and textual sources. Case study

Abstract

The paper discusses the activities involved in the process of creating a digital thematic repository focusing on historical cartographic and textual sources. On the basis of the thematic repository created as part of the project “Shaping the borders of Independent Poland in the light of cartographic documents”, the author presents proposals for solutions aimed at effective management of the various materials, as well as allowing users easy access to specific information. It provides an overview of the issues identified in the context of identifying, selecting, digitising and sharing digital copies of sources of relevance to humanities and social sciences research. With regard to the digitisation of cartographic sources, the article examines the challenges of adapting the technology to meet the diverse needs of information retrieval. In addition, it addresses issues related to the development of metadata and the integration of different types of sources. The article also addresses issues related to maintaining and updating the digital repository, with a particular focus on ensuring the sustainability of the project. The conclusions of the completed project allow us to identify best practices in the process of creating and managing a digital thematic repository, which can be a valuable tool for researchers, students, and cultural heritage institutions.