Digitization policy of cultural heritage in Lithuania and its implementation in Lithuanian museums The Branch of Lithuanian Art Museum Lithuanian Museums' Centre for Information, Digitization and LIMIS

Cultural heritage digitization policy in Lithuania Concept of Digitization of Lithuanian Cultural Heritage was approved in 2005 by the Government. Lithuanian Cultural Heritage Digitization, Digital Content Preservation and Access Strategy was approved by Lithuanian Government on 20 May In the Strategic Framework for Implementation of the Strategy allocation for the cultural heritage digitization is budgeted.

Lithuanian Museums' Centre for Information, Digitization and LIMIS The Center was founded on 30 June 2009, according to the recommendations of the Museum board of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania (April 2009) and the implementation plan of the Lithuanian Cultural Heritage Digitization, Digital Content Preservation and Access Strategy. Center office: Bokšto street 5, Vilnius, Lithuania.

The context for creation of the Centre Lithuanian Museums' Centre for Information, Digitization and LIMIS was established in Lithuanian Art Museum. Museum is collaborating with Lithuanian National Library and Lithuanian Archives Department in the creation of national cultural heritage portal that was started in 2005 ( Integrated Virtual Library project). Lithuanian Art Museum had its own holdings information system (RIS).

The structure of the Lithuanian Museums' Centre for Information, Digitization and LIMIS  Administration;  Department of LIMIS and Information Technology;  Methodical Department;  Department of Digitization;  Department of Information, Publishing and Public Relations.

The main purposes of the Centre 1. Organizing and coordinating the creation of LIMIS system, its implementation and development in Lithuanian museums; 2. Organizing and coordinating the digitization of objects held by museums, creation of digital content and its publication; 3. Administration of the portal "Lithuanian Museums"; 4. Coordinating and organizing education of the Lithuanian museum workers in the field of digitization.

Lithuanian Integrated Museums Information System (LIMIS) Project stages In the first stage of the project LIMIS will be implemented in 4 national museums and 15 state museums. In the second stage LIMIS should involve 67 municipal, 22 departmental and private museums. The Results Growing number of digital exhibits; museums exhibits preservation and stocktaking; museums staff qualification improvement; better museums exhibits accessibility; effective information availability for society.

The regional digitization centers It is planned that the Center will integrate three digitization centers in the regions. They are currently under development. Regional centers should be established in these museums:  National M. K. Čiurlionis Art Museum in Kaunas  Šiauliai "Aušra" Museum  Lithuanian Sea Museum in Klaipėda

Basic information on the activities of the Centre – the portal “Lietuvos muziejai” (Lithuanian Museums)

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