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Nahaufnahme eines Mikrofilmscanners

Mikrofilmscanner, Source: BStU / Appl

Digitisation of Stasi Records

The Stasi Records Archive has been digitising selected parts of its holdings for a number of years with the aim of preserving the content for the future and making it more easily accessible. A large number of devices are needed to be able to read the many different formats of stored media.

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Documents and Records

In the realm of paper documents, the Stasi Records Archive pursues two digitisation strategies: Since 2014, documents have been digitised as part of request processing. The idea of digitisation for use makes it easier for users to work with digital documents. To this end, the documents are comprehensively prepared for scanning and then digitised using feed-in scanners, flatbed scanners or book scanners that are gentle on the inventory and made available for internal transfers via a digital file distribution point.

For the ‘digitisation of documents’ work area, employees must be familiar both with aspects of conservation and technical requirements. A particular challenge is posed by the often-fragile paper, and by the different data carriers such as photo positives, photo negatives, varying paper qualities with varying writing techniques or copies made using different duplication processes. They require a close exchange of information with the conservation and restoration departments.

Documents that have already been digitised are stored in an archive-appropriate storage system according to parameters that have been agreed upon with the partner archives. These documents are available for further retrieval.

In addition to digitisation for use, systematic digitisation is planned as part of the preservation process. To this end, the Stasi Records Archive is consulting closely with the network archives (Federal Archives, Political Archives of the Federal Foreign Office, Parliamentary Archives, Federal Council Archives) with a view to concluding a joint framework agreement to minimise costs.

Historically valuable holdings have already been prioritised with experts from the cataloguing departments. These documents have been assessed for digitisation with regard to preparatory work. Coordination is currently underway to determine which quantities can be digitised in which capacities for this project.

Total number of documents digitized: approx. 4.95 million pages
(as of March 2021)

Eine Mitarbeiterin des BStU bedient einen Einzugsscanner und prüft am Computerbildschirm die Qualität des Scans.
Scanning process for the digitization of documentsSource: BStU / Appl

Filmed Documents

The Stasi Records Archive administers a large number of microfilms that the MfS created to secure its archived files. The microfilm carrier medium for these filmed documents, known as the ‘security fond’, is subject to a chemical decay process. In order to digitise the entire ‘security fond’ and thus secure it for the future, high-performance scanners are needed.  Market research has been conducted and procurement of this equipment is being considered as part of the planned digitisation centre.

The microfilm scanners currently in use are being used in the digitisation process for files that are solely on film and no longer available as paper files. If they have been commissioned for release, these documents, which are only available on film (so-called replacement originals), are transferred directly to the digitisation department. Users can also request to have documents be made available in digital form.

The digitised documents from the ‘security fond’ are also stored in the internal storage system according to the agreed parameters and therefore available for further use. The number of digitised media of filmed documents is included in the total number of digitised documents. They cannot be evaluated separately until the statistics of the storage system have been further developed.

Ein BStU-Mitarbeiter bei der Digitalisierung von Mikrofilmen. Im Vordergrund ist ein Mikrofilmscanner zu sehen.
With the help of microfilm scanners, the staff of the BArch's digitization departments digitize so-called “substitute originals” (filmed documents) for which no paper files are available.Source: BStU / Appl

Cassettes, Tapes and Other Audio Material

The Stasi Records Archive preserves a unique collection of analogue audio carriers from the former MfS and its district administrations. It includes tapes, cassettes, dictation cassettes, record albums, dictation discs and audio wires, recorded in every track position and speed, from the 1950s to 1990. The MfS used almost every audio system available nationally and internationally at the time. There is also the equipment that the MfS developed internally to play audio recordings.

In preparing the digitisation of this diverse audio landscape, the first challenge employees face is obtaining suitable, functioning playback devices. These must also meet the technical quality requirements associated with digitisation. The team must also be capable of operating and repairing these devices.

Digital preservation of sound carriers has been ongoing since 2009 because damaged sound carriers cannot be restored and in some cases, the lifespan of the carrier media has already been surpassed. Digitisation is the only way to preserve archive material for the future. The result is uncompressed master files (.wav, 48 kHz/24 bit) for long-term archiving and data-reduced copies (.mp3) for use.

Audio digital database total: 20,200 hours or approx. 56% of the entire audio collection
(as of February 2019)

Ein Mitarbeiter des BStU mit Kopfhörern an einem Abspielgerät für Tonträger
Playback device for sound carriersSource: BStU / Appl

Photos, Slides, Negatives and Oversize Formats
 

The photo workshop at the Stasi Records Archive also conducts digitisation work to make material available to users and for preservation purposes. Photographic originals are processed in incident light and transmitted light as well as in oversize formats. Oversize formats include posters, construction plans, floor plans and maps.

Photographic originals are available as slides, negatives and paper prints in various formats. The MfS photo collection also included other special formats, such as ferrotypes and ‘mikrate’. Digitisation technology has to be flexible to be able to digitise the entire range of originals in varied formats. Either scanners or camera-based processes are used, depending on the original.

The target resolution is based on national and international specifications, such as the standard recommended by the German Research Foundation. Digitisation is carried out to provide the user with the entire content of the originals. A backup digital copy is created at the same time to secure the information in the original for the long term and ensure that it can be made available quickly for further use in the future.

The photo originals are stored as uncompressed TIF files with 16-bit information depth per channel; the target resolution is 600 ppi in relation to DIN A4.

(Version from February 2019)

Eine Mitarbeiterin des BStU reinigt mit einem Blasebalg die Leuchtplatte, bevor das darunterliegende Bild mit der Kamera abfotografiert wird.
A BArch employee cleans the negative with a bellows before it is digitized with the camera.Source: BStU / Appl
Im Vordergrund ist eine Kamera zu sehen. Im Display der Kamera sieht man den Bildausschnitt einer Karte von Berlin. Im Hintergrund halten zwei Mitarbeiterinnen des BStU die Karte hoch zum Fotografieren.
Overformats, such as maps and construction plans, are digitized using camera-based processes.Source: BStU / Appl

Films and Videos

The video collection in the Stasi Records Archive is as diverse as the audio recordings. The MfS used all systems available on the (international) market in production, or at least in test use. This means that for digitisation at least one functioning playback device is required for each of these video formats and their variations. The various television standards represent an additional hurdle. These video devices are only available as historical material. The Stasi Records Archive meets this requirement with a specialised staff and its own workshop.

The optimal digitisation of the videotapes requires partial tape cleaning and extended expertise, which is achieved through cooperation with competent service providers. Here too, the aim is to secure the collection and make it available for the future.

We are not yet able to calculate the total number of digitised films and videos due to the minimal statistics tool of the storage system. (as of February 2019)

Ein Mitarbeiter der BStU bedient ein historisches Videogerät.
Various historical playback devices are required for the digitization of video formats.Source: BStU / Appl