The speaker speaks online.

Abstract:

This presentation explores how digital technologies are reshaping the study of historical manuscripts. From digitisation and metadata structuring to computational analysis and open data, researchers today can access, analyse, and interpret manuscript material in ways previously unimaginable.

Key topics include:

• What historical manuscripts are and why they matter
• Challenges in traditional manuscript research, including the digitisation of fragile materials requiring conservation-aware practices
• Digital tools and methods, such as high-resolution scanning, multispectral imaging, structured metadata, and automated text recognition (OCR/HTR)
• The “collection as data” approach, which enables large-scale computational research using datasets from platforms like Transkribus, Fragmentarium, British Library, and CERL
• Use of tools such as Voyant Tools and Python for textual, statistical, and semantic analysis
• Example of digital initiatives in Glagolitic manuscripts – Zadar University
• GLAMLabs (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums Labs) as spaces for innovation, collaboration, and support for researchers working with digitised cultural heritage
• Practical guidance on accessing open manuscript datasets and responsibly conducting digital research

By integrating traditional manuscript expertise with digital innovation, this presentation emphasizes the importance of collaboration, infrastructure, and openness in advancing manuscript studies for the digital age.

Short bio:

Dr Marijana Tomić is Associate Professor and former Head of the Department of Information Sciences, University of Zadar, Croatia, and an associate and former Head of the scientific Centre for Research in Glagolitism of University of Zadar. She teaches courses in the digital humanities, theory and practice of information organization, digital transformation of cultural heritage and GLAM institutions, bibliography, cataloguing of old and rare books and book history on undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels. She is a (co)superviser of a number of final and doctoral thesis. Her research interests include digital humanities, digital transformation of cultural heritage and GLAM institutions, Croatian Glagolitism, manuscript studies, filigranology, fragmentology and bibliographic organization of information.

She is a member of a number of scientific projects, programme and organization committees of several international doctoral schools and conferences, member of editorial boards of several scientific journals, etc. She published book and a number of scientific and professional articles in the field and edited a number of scientific books in the field. She received several national and institutional awards,  Croatian Library Association award Eva Verona which is presented to the best young LIS professionals (2010), Award Judita for the best study of Croatian Renaissance heritage published in a scientific monograph, award of Rector of the University of Zadar for efforts in digitization and protection of written heritage, and award of municipality of Starigrad Paklenica for editing scientific monograph Starigrad Paklenica.