From Digitization to Digitalization: a Conceptual Model for Transforming the Bulgarian State Archives into a Socio-Technical Infrastructure

Yasena Chantova

doi:10.55630/dipp.2026.16.35

Authors

Yasena Chantova University of Library Studies and Information Technologies, 119 Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd., 1784 Sofia, Bulgaria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55630/dipp.2026.16.35

Keywords:

Digital Archives, Digitalization, Bulgarian State Archives, Digital Cultural Heritage

Abstract

This research puts forward a conceptual model for transforming the Bulgarian State Archives from digitization to digitalization practices. Using conceptual analysis and archival standards it identifies systemic, metadata, and AI integration layers. It argues that sustainable digital archives demand an infrastructure based on interoperability, long-term preservation, and advanced access to archival knowledge.

References

AlKendi, W., Gechter, F., Heyberger, L., & Guyeux, C. (2024). Advancements and Challenges in Handwritten Text Recognition: A Comprehensive Survey. Journal of Imaging, 10(1), Article 18. https://doi.org/10.3390/jimaging10010018

Baca, M. (Ed.). (2016). Introduction to metadata (3rd ed.). Getty Publications. http://www.getty.edu/publications/intrometadata/

Borgman, C. L. (2015). Big data, little data, no data: Scholarship in the networked world. MIT Press.

Brennen, J. S., & Kreiss, D. (2016). Digitalization. In K. B. Jensen, E. W. Rothenbuhler, J. D. Pooley, & R. T. Craig (Eds.), The international encyclopedia of communication theory and philosophy. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118766804.wbiect111

Colavizza, G., Blanke, T., Jeurgens, C., & Noordegraaf, J. (2022). Archives and AI: An overview of current debates and future perspectives. Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage, 15(1), Article 4. https://doi.org/10.1145/3479010

Conway, P. (2010). Preservation in the age of Google: Digitization, digital preservation, and dilemmas. The Library Quarterly: Information, Community, Policy, 80(1), 61–79. https://doi.org/10.1086/648463

Darzhavna agentsia "Arhivi". (n.d.). Home page. Retrieved February 28, 2026, from https://www.archives.government.bg

Friedewald, M., Székely, I., & Karaboga, M. (2024). Preserving the Past, Enabling the Future: Assessing the European Policy on Access to Archives in the Digital Age. Preservation, Digital Technology & Culture, 53(2), 61–71. https://doi.org/10.1515/pdtc-2024-0003

Gilliland, A. J. (2014). Conceptualizing 21st-century archives. Society of American Archivists.

Informatsionna sistema na darzhavnite arhivi (ISDA). (n.d.). Fund search portal. Retrieved February 5, 2026, from https://isda.archives.government.bg:84/FundSearch.aspx

International Council on Archives & Australasian Digital Records Initiative. (2008). Principles and functional requirements for records in electronic office environments – Module 1: Overview and statement of principles. Retrieved May 14, 2025, from https://www.naa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-09/m1-ica-overview-principle-and-functional-requirements_tcm16-95418.pdf

Jaillant, L., & Caputo, A. (2022). Unlocking digital archives: Cross-disciplinary perspectives on AI and born-digital data. AI & Society, 37, 823–835. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-021-01367-x

Memon, J., Sami, M., Khan, R. A., & Uddin, M. (2020). Handwritten Optical Character Recognition (OCR): A Comprehensive Systematic Literature Review (SLR). IEEE Access, 8, 142642–142668. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.3012542

Ogilvie, B. (2016). Scientific archives in the age of digitization. Isis, 107(1), 64–72. https://doi.org/10.1086/686075

Palmer, C. L., Teffeau, L. C., & Newton, M. P. (2008). Strategies for institutional repository development. Library Trends, 57(2), 142–167. https://doi.org/10.1353/lib.0.0033

Perry, S. R. (2014). Digitization and digital preservation: A review of the literature. School of Information Student Research Journal, 4(1), Article 4. https://doi.org/10.31979/2575-2499.040104

Petkova, S., & Atanasov, H. (2023). IKT, digitalizatsiyata i dostapat do arhivnite dokumenti v Bulgaria (misli, praktiki, nadezhdi) [ICT, digitization and access to archival documents in Bulgaria (thoughts, practices, expectations)]. Akademichno izdatelstvo "Za bukvite - O pismeneh".

Proekt 43 "Digitalizatsia na kolektsii na muzei, biblioteki i arhivi" (investitsia S11.I7 ot Plana za vazstanovyavane i ustoychivost na Republika Bulgaria). (n.d.). Project info portal. Retrieved February 11, 2026, from https://mc.government.bg/page.php?p=46&s=48&sp=1027&t=0&z=0

Smiraglia, R. (2014). The elements of knowledge organization. Springer.

Tsvetkova, N., & Petrova, E. (2015). Izgrazhdane na digitalnia arhiv na Darzhavna agentsia "Arhivi" na Republika Bulgaria kato tsentralizрована baza ot digitalni obekti [Creating the digital archive of the State Archives Agency of the Republic of Bulgaria as a centralized repository of digital objects]. Godishnik na Natsionalnia voenen universitet "Vasil Levski", 13–20.