Le numérique au service de l’exceptionnel à la bibliothèque du Service historique de la Défense : le rouleau de l’ordre de bataille de Vélez-Málaga

Abstract

The library of the Historical Service of Defence, a nationwide service of the Ministry of Armed forces, purchased an exceptional document thanks to a crowd-funding campaign in 2016. This 18th century manuscript, The Order of the Battle of Malaga roll (c. 1715-1720) was rapidly digitized for both mediation and conservation purposes. Digital imaging then emerged as an interesting way of mediation, offering a real scientific and pedagogic added value to such a document. Besides interpretation, digitisation allows interesting possibilities in terms of preservation, providing both a high-quality surrogate and a testimony of the manuscript’s state of conservation. Finally, digital imagery helps historical research offering a new point of view on the document. Digitisation has made the crossover of information and data possible, while underlining the limits of digital imagery, regardless of its field of application. Although digital imaging is a tool with exceptional potential, it cannot be used wisely without thinking about its limits.

Keywords

• France
• cultural heritage
• Historical Service of Defence
• specialised libraries
• conservation and restoration
• naval history digital media