Modernised cultural heritage information systems will meet contemporary needs
The Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania is implementing the project “Consolidation and Modernisation of Cultural Heritage Information Systems” together with the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture (DCH).
“The information systems currently used by the DCH can hardly ensure high-quality, modern and timely electronic services and properly present information related to the protection of movable and immovable cultural property. After modernizing the information systems, they will be more efficient and convenient not just to the users of services but also to the DCH specialists themselves”, the Vice-Minister of Culture Rimantas Mikaitis says.
The main objective of the project is to modernise and consolidate the information systems directly related to the protection, maintenance and updating of cultural heritage: the Heritage Registry (HR) and the Cultural Heritage Electronic Services Information System (CHESIS). This will help meet the needs of modern users, expand electronic services related to the protection of movable and immovable cultural property, and improve the quality of public services.
“The National Library’s projects that generate added value for the public continue to remain a strategic goal. This project will not only ensure the upgrading of heritage-related information systems but will also contribute to the development of data interoperability and will provide more opportunities to utilise system functionality for various user groups. During the project, integrated interfaces of cultural heritage and other state information systems will be developed. Using the possibilities of information systems, specialists of state and municipal institutions will be able to work more efficiently”, the Director of General of the National Library, Prof. Dr. Renaldas Gudauskas said, assessing the planned value of the project.
“As information technologies are changing and improving, the institutions that perform the functions determined by the state must actively follow IT innovations and trends, strive for changes, better processing and presentation of data, and broader opportunities for both the specialists that perform those functions and the public. Hopefully, after the implementation of the project, the Heritage Registry will become more functional, the data will become more reliable and secure, using the upgraded Cultural Heritage Electronic Services Information System, we will provide users will higher quality services, the processes will be automated, the administrative burden will be reduced for entities operating in the field of cultural heritage: the public, heritage specialists, business companies, etc. It will be easier for them to receive services related to the protection, maintenance, and updating of cultural heritage. This is a particularly important and timely project, and, by utilising the linkage with the eCulture Platform project implemented by the National Library, we will be able to more efficiently and more representatively present the cultural heritage of the entire Lithuania”, Vidmantas Bezaras says.
The DCH information systems modernised during the implementation of the project will be more attractive and functional for the users. It is projected that, by 31 December 2026, the number of the system’s users will have increased by 3 percent, over 5,400 users will have used the CHESIS, while up to 77,400 users will have used HR.
The project is funded by the European Union (NextGenerationEU) and the Economic Recovery and Resilience Plan “New Generation Lithuania”. Its value is EUR 2.96 million.
More about the project
Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania information