CU Erasmus students as the National Library interns ****************************************************************************************** * CU Erasmus students as the National Library interns ****************************************************************************************** 23. 7. 2012; by: Erasmus students; Photo: Loreta Abidini and Marion Fay; Section: English The Charles University has been fortunate to host some very active Erasmus students, who h the obligatory attending classes, socializing with their Erasmus peers and exploring Pragu Republic – found also the time for an internship or voluntary project while studying in th One of the most favourite institutions for a short-term internship accompanying the Erasmu Prague has for a number of students, especially those studying Information Science, Litera or Archive Science, become the National Library of the Czech Republic, namely its departme preparing the digital text editions for the international virtual library Manuscriptorium. We asked Mr. Tomáš Klimek from this department to share his experience with the Erasmus st He explains: “The National Library of the Czech Republic (more precisely its Department of Digital Library) has been cooperating with Erasmus students studying at Charles University summer semester 2010/11. There are about 10 students interning at National Library each se means that we have employed about 30 students for the internship till now. The students wh with us prepare digital full text editions of the historical texts to be published in the Digital Library. Their work consists of learning the basic facts about the XML mark up languages and famili XML editor. Then, the students can already transfer the texts of an old book or other mate to them in its modern text edition) into XML format by adding the structural tags using a structure. Consequently, they correlate the text to the images of the original document (e page from an old book). Students can choose the text they will work with according to their paleographical skills of the language of the original document (mostly Latin). This means that students without knowledge of the historical script can work on preparing texts which would be boring for t workers and, vice versa, the most experienced students can prepare editions of worse reada what can help them by improving editorial or language skills. This type of work is perfectly convenient for the cooperation with interning students and is fruitful for both sides. Most of the students are pleased by concreteness of the assign visible results help to increase their motivation. Connecting humanities and IT sphere of something what often attracts attention. On the other hand, such work demands plenty of working hours even from the experienced emp not be thinkable without the possibility of using external and fresh working force. The re as well as the interning students’ work is very useful for scholars dealing with manuscrip printed books like historians, art historians, linguists, musicologists, geographers, as w of paleography, etc. In the same time the gained material can be a good base for research automation of transferring images into texts. There are also some other works connected with creating our digital library of historical several full-time interning students staying in Prague for a longer period of time on an E students in a very positively way.” One of these full-time interning students will be Katarzyna Sycz, Erasmus student at the F have asked her several questions concerning her experience in the National Library so far Katarzyna, I really liked your reasons for joining the Charles University in Prague. In yo you said that “I am applying for a place in the Erasmus exchange programme, so that I can with the feeling, I have used all the possibilities that the university offered to me, so was the best.“ This is actually one of the best motivations, I have seen so far – and it s about you being a well-motivated student. Your wish to make the best from your study stay also to the application for the internship in the National Library. What was your main task during the internship, how was the cooperation with the National L what do you think you have gained from the experience so far? Was the internship complemen studies? Thank you. It's very nice that you quoted my motivation. During my internship at the Natio worked for the Manuscriptorium Digital Library and my duties centred on preparation of ele of historical documents. The work consisted of both the structuring of the texts and corre parts to images of original documents. The purpose of this task was to enable access to historical documents to the public, and t search of particular passages. Texts on which I worked, were written in Latin. This may so complicated, but basically the work was not difficult; only some parts of the Latin texts complicated to read, but I could always count on getting help if necessary. Cooperation with the National Library was very enjoyable. Mr. Tomáš Klimek, who supervised patiently explained what I had to do; he also always willingly and with a smile answered a I think it was a very interesting experience. The best proof is that I am applying to do a in this institution again, this time for a longer period of time. In my opinion this type necessary and I would like to broaden my knowledge in this field. Last year, back at my home university in Poland, I studied Linguistics and Information Sci the National Library is closely connected to these study fields of mine. I'm not planning studies in Poland at the moment, but maybe I will go on in another country in the future. Your previous internships in Poland were from a different field – journalism. If you compa fields, what is interesting for you in either of them? First of all, I should say that the fields of work are not that different. In the publishi had worked previously I focused mainly on the work of standard text editing, the tasks tha the knowledge and experience gained under the editorial specialization. Typical journalist writing articles and interviews was only a small part of my tasks. I am actually also more interested in the work on creating a book, from the initial proof- printing. This last phase is especially very interesting for me. Within the practice at th Poznan, I had the opportunity to work in a traditional printing house for a short period o everything was done manually. But the biggest part of the work I was doing in the publishing houses, was proof-reading a was the thing that gave me personally the greatest pleasure and satisfaction. Working in the National Library in Prague was another chance to see how we can work with a the case of my internship, how to make the most valuable works available to a wide range o think that this type of work these days, when most people can not imagine working without extremely important and forward-looking. After finishing the short-term internship in the National Library this winter (an internsh attended during a full-time study stay), you have approached the library to arrange a long after the end of your study stay at Charles University. Are you using the Erasmus programm exchange again? If yes, what are the differences between the Erasmus Study Stay and the Er Placement for the students of the University of Poznan? What are your expectations of this cooperation with the National Library? Yes, I would again benefit from the Erasmus program. I’m just in the process of applying f Placement; I'm not yet sure if I can get the nomination from my home university in Poznan, your fingers crossed for me! The main difference between applying for the Erasmus Study Stay and the Erasmus Practical would want to hire them on their own. The recruitment process is open only until the limit compliance of the planned Practical Placement with your field of study. Students may apply In the case of the Erasmus Study Stay, the procedure centres more on the academic matters; foreign language knowledge. Linguists and Information Science students are however not the only ones who profit from t interesting also for Historians, Art Historians and students of Archive Science. We have a Arts of Charles University in the academic year 2010/11 to share her opinion on the opport Marion, you are a student of History. When you joined the National Library for an internsh tried how one of the possible careers for historians nowadays could look like. Did you lik How was it for you to work with the electronic versions of the old books and manuscripts? I was really glad when I received the advert for this internship because I was in the thir Bachelor studies back then and I was seriously thinking what I wanted to do after I comple The first time I went to Klementinum, the seat of the National Library, I was amazed by th Tomáš Klimek, my supervisor, was really very nice. I liked to work with the old manuscript electronic version. I hadn't had the opportunity to work with that kind of documents befor What were your tasks in the National Library and how was the cooperation with the staff th the internship influenced your wish of the future career? Initially, it was a little complicated for me to get the grip of the software (jEdit) we w after some days it was okay. My task was to search certain words from the modern text (Wor document in the original manuscript version of it and join both the documents by links the The atmosphere in the office was good, and Mr. Klimek was very patient and supportive. At present, I plan to work in the field of protection of historical heritage. The internsh National Library helped me to find out that this path was my desired career. As French student of History you have most likely attended the classes offered by Assoc. P Nejedlý from the Institute of Czech History. How was your experience with his subjects? Wa for you to meet many French as well as Czech historians? Was there any topic that you part Yes, I followed Mr. Nejedlý’s classes, and I really enjoyed them. They were both very inte topics were very diverse and sometimes, really original, too! I particularly appreciated t Laurent Vissiere, about aliens. The only thing I would possibly change, if I can suggest s be to include more topics from the Czech history. You had a nice opportunity to compare the traditional job of historians (teaching and rese Nejedlý’s classes and the modern way of the historian’s work in the National Library last consider either of the careers? I'm currently doing a Master in medieval History of Art, so first of all I have to write m say that I really like research, but I don't want to do it all my life. As I have already would like to work in the field of protection of historical heritage, and work on the spot Thank you for your answers.