Short project summary
Building the Sfakia Library is a Cultural Memory project focused on the digital recording and future classification of a donated collection of around 5,000 books in Askifou, Sfakia, a historic mountain region in Crete. Using a custom-built book registration application, the project lays the groundwork for the future creation of a municipal library and its digital database.
Why this project matters
This project matters because it helps turn a large donated book collection into a future public resource for Sfakia. Through digital recording and organized documentation, it lays the foundation for a municipal library that can support learning, research, and community life, while strengthening local cultural infrastructure for the long term.
Main activities
1. Digital recording of the collection
The first step of the project is the digital recording of the donated book collection. Each book is entered into a dedicated system in order to create a structured digital record and ensure that the collection can be documented in a consistent and searchable way.
2. Development and use of the cataloguing application
To support this process, Cultural Memory has developed a custom book registration application. The tool is designed to facilitate the cataloguing workflow and to create the foundation for a future library database that can support the long-term management of the collection.
3. Collection organization and metadata entry
Alongside the digital recording, the project includes the organization of the books’ basic bibliographic information. Titles, authors, publishers, dates, and other key details are gradually recorded in order to improve the usability and future classification of the collection.
4. Preparation for future classification
A central activity of the project is preparing the collection for its next stage: systematic classification. By creating a reliable digital record and organizing the core metadata of the books, the project makes it possible for the collection to be sorted and managed more effectively in the future.
5. Laying the groundwork for a municipal library
Beyond the immediate task of cataloguing, the project contributes to a broader long-term goal: the future creation of a municipal library in Sfakia. The work carried out today helps transform a stored donation into the basis of a public cultural and educational resource for the local community.
Expected outcomes
By the end of the project, the following will have been achieved:
- Creates the foundation for a future municipal library in Sfakia
- Transforms a donated book collection into an organized and usable resource
- Improves the documentation and management of the collection through digital recording
- Supports future public access to knowledge and educational material
- Strengthens local cultural infrastructure in the long term
- Contributes to the creation of a shared space for learning, study, and community use
