ANNOUNCEMENT – With funding from the European Commission and the Conference of European National Libraries (CENL), The European Library has undertaken an important decision to make its collections accessible in most of Europe’s native languages. As a first step, the titles and descriptions of 330 digital collections and catalogues are being made available in 27 languages. Additional languages will follow in the near future.
The user interface of http://www.TheEuropeanLibrary.org is already available in 27 languages. Also help texts, FAQs, an user guide and other explanatory texts (’search by material – showing different types of material’) have been translated in all or several languages.
The translation of the collection descriptions is carried out by Scriptware, a Dutch translation agency. This company used its translation portal TransiBar (http://www.transibar.com/transibar/portal/login) to handle the online translation and review of the XML content.
“This unique multi-language project required the right approach. The idea of a translation portal where all the partners involved could interact was very appealing. Consequently, we asked Scriptware to employ their TransiBar portal” says Lizzy Komen, The European Library project coordinator. Frank ter Reehorst, Managing Director of Scriptware added, “This is the first time we have had 27 languages in one go in TransiBar. It is a significant development, particularly as we have now submitted the translation to online review by locally-based reviewers in each of the national libraries.”
NB: The translations are not live yet. They will be made available by the end of October.
Another interesting development resulting from the progressive multilingual character of The European Library relates to the so-called Mini Library (mini version of the search box, that one can place on every website, blog or even Facebook page). Currently users of the Mini Library widget can pre-select the size, color, collections, and language they like to focus on. With the translation of the collection descriptions, the value of the language option has increased quite a bit. After all, for a non-native English speaker it is so much easier to select the collection you wish to focus on if you can read the description in your own language….
[partially re-used the text of the associated press release cq announcement]
