The National Digital Data Archives

Abstract

The National Digital Data Archives, the organisa-tion in charge of coordinating the digitisation activi-ties carried out by various Hungárián cultural insti-tutions was iaunched as a government initiative but aims to reach a professional consensus involving a wide rangé of collaborating partners. The network structure based on the Open Archives Initiative makes it possible for data owners to make their collections available within a controlled system. As the system is supported out of the central budget, it was designed with the maximum consideration of cost-effectiveness, control and accountability. The application of international standards, the newly Iaunched search engine, the metadata structures elaborated by the expert groups, the free and eas-ily customizable features all play a role in the ex-pansion and enhancement of the system.