DIGITALIZATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE IN THE FUNCTION OF ACHIEVING CULTURAL POLICY GOALS

Text topic: Comparative Situation Analyses

Text author: Вук Вукићевић

Digitalization of cultural material can facilitate access to cultural heritage and encourage participation in culture. European countries use this potential differently. Thus, they contribute to the implementation of different purposes of their cultural policies. The European Union encourages countries to organize and finance activities in this domain. In this work, different measures and activities linked to the digitalization of cultural heritage and online accessibility are analyzed in Serbia, Croatia, United Kingdom and France. Activities in each of these countries are described separately. In this context, different activities of National library, Film archive and other cultural institutions in Serbia are analyzed. In addition, plans and activities of the Serbian Ministry of Culture in this domain are presented. Croatian ministry of Culture developed National digitalization program for libraries, archives and museums. Different projects in the United Kingdom implemented by the Department of culture, media and sport are also described. It is also analyzed how the French Ministry of Culture uses different financial and legislative measures and implements program and projects that favorite digitalization of cultural material and online accessibility in culture. In addition, some examples of the cooperation in this domain between public and private organizations are presented. In the conclusion, different results of the mentioned activities are compared and some similarities identified. At the end, on the basis of this parallel analysis, recommendations for digitalization of cultural material are put down for decision-makers in Serbia.