Welcome to the Wrocław University Library: Multicultural Collections and Digital Technologies

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the rich, multicultural special collections of the Wrocław University Library that, based on their languages, provenances and historical values, create across the countries’ borders a common European cultural heritage. Then it describes the power of present day digital technology that can be used not only to preserve the originals in the form of digital copies, and also how digital libraries and global computer networks can give them the „second life“ in the boundless virtual space. Next, based on the projects realized by the Wrocław University Library, the application of new technological tools with many functionalities is discussed in order to present how these new technological solutions can enrich the originals and overcome the borders of their traditional physical forms.