The European Library Opens Up 48 Jewel Boxes using TransiBar
By Frank ter Reehorst,
General Manager,
Scriptware Translations
Lizzy Komen,
Project Coordinator for,
The European Library and Europeana
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  In
2007 the collection descriptions from the European national
libraries were only available in the native language and
in English via The European Library portal.
The European Library Office aimed to have all 330 collection
descriptions available in 27 languages by mid 2008. To fully
understand the scope of the project, it is important to
know what a collection and a collection description is.
It is common understanding that a collection covers the
total accumulation of books or other materials owned by
a library, organized and catalogued for ease of access by
its users. A collection description allows the owners or
curators of collections to disclose information about their
existence and availability.
 Given
the regular workload of The European Library, the translation
project was too sizable to coordinate and process internally.
Consequently, it was decided to outsource to a translation
services provider. Price quotes were asked from 10 geographically
dispersed translation agencies (in the UK, India, USA, Netherlands,
Latvia, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain). In June 2008, Scriptware
was selected as the agency of choice.
Currently 8 new languages are being added, scaling
up the project to a Europe-wide exposé as far as
the Southern boundaries of the Caucasus.
The funding for this project comes from co-funding of European
Commission through the TELplus project
and the Conference of European National Libraries.
Organizational Profile
The European Library is a free service that offers access
to 150 million books, magazines, posters, images, maps,
videos, etc. of the 48 national libraries
of Europe. A national library is the library specifically
established by a country to store its information database.
National libraries usually host the legal deposit and the
bibliographic control centre of a nation. The user interface
of The European Library is currently available in 35
languages [Image 1] and the collection descriptions
are part of this service.
Characteristics:
- The 48 European national libraries participating in
The European Library are all members of the Conference
of European National Librarians (CENL),
a foundation aiming at increasing and reinforcing the
role of national libraries in Europe. Members of CENL
are the national librarians of the Council of Europe Member
States.
- Currently The European Library gives access to 150 million
entries across Europe. The amount of referenced digital
collections is constantly increasing. Quality and reliability
are guaranteed by the 48 collaborating national libraries
of Europe. The European Library is a non-commercial organization.
- To encompass its vision, The European Library ad dresses
a political dimension by providing multilingual content.
- The European Library is the organizational model for
the “European digital library” [Now known as Europeana].
This European Commission initiative will encompass not
only libraries but also museums, archives and other holders
of cultural heritage material.
Image 1. Home Page The European
Library
Technical Overview
The European Library first translated the user interface
through the support of the associated national libraries.
For the translation of the titles and descriptions, however,
a translation service provider was needed. This was because
of time and resource constraints, review requirements and
the large volume of translatable content. In line with The
European Library’s vision localized collection descriptions
were needed, besides a localized interface.
“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.
Consequently the decision was made to free funds that would
allow a full-blown localization project. The choice for
a translation environment was based on the following technical
conditions:
- proven experience with XML files, and Unicode
- re-use of existing Word translations in some major languages
by creating translation memories
- clear workflow and a centralized translation system
- review functionality that would enable librarians in
all national libraries to check the translations
Business Benefit
It was expected that the use of an XML-based translation
tool would largely facilitate the translation of the xml
files. In addition it was likely that there would be repetitions
in the search records. Given the volumes, the European Library
office decided that this project needed to be outsourced.
In August 2008 all translations were realized and linguistically
checked by Scriptware Language Engineers. After a full review
round by representatives from the national libraries, the
project was delivered by September. By early November 2008
the 330 translated collection descriptions were accessible
via The European Library portal in 27 languages. The European
Library stakeholders were pleased with the outcomes; full
translation of all collection descriptions will require
further analysis to fully measure the end-user benefits.
Currently the second translation phase has started involving
8 new languages, like Azeri, Albanian and Ukrainian. For
maintenance purposes, The European Library will be able
to export new collection descriptions and start up an update
project in 35 languages instantly.
The European Library Users
It is in the vision of The European Library to provide
equal access to the richness and diversity of European learning
and culture. Equal access to the public implies a translation
mission. This is also reflected in the language
policy and this is why The European Library undertakes
the translation of collection descriptions.
The European Library primarily targets its service to librarians
and members of the academics community. Both the CENL libraries
and their customers will benefit greatly from the translated
collection descriptions and titles in The European Library.
There will be benefits for:
end users:
- better search and retrieve functionality as searching
of the collections can be done in the native languages
improving resource discovery of native resources held
in other countries, especially for non-English speakers.
- will better understand (in their primary or secondary
languages) what foreign collections cover.
libraries:
- wider access to and promotion of all the libraries’
collections and objects, irrespective of language. Bigger
potential audience, more traffic.
- increase in multilingual content, better exposure for
The European Library to search engines.
User studies from the TELplus project show that users appreciate
the functionality of a multilingual service. One of the
first things users do when entering the portal is change
the language of the interface. In addition statistical data
[Image 3] of the website usage shows the most popular languages
selected for services such as the 1st Time User
Guide and FAQ, which shows a need for multiple
language offering (source Awstats).
Statistics about the usage of the translated collection
descriptions will be part of future user analysis, following
adequate promotion of this service.
Image 2. FAQ’s + USER GUIDE: Most
Popular Languages
(Jan 09-Mar 09 - Total)
Dissemination of the translation project took place in
the first instance via the TELplus project, which reports
the project outcomes to the European Commission. The 8availability
of the translations was also distributed via The European
Library newsletter, to the library partners and wider audience
of The European Library. Additionally the national libraries
translated The European Library press release issued in
April 2009, which announced the increase of multilingual
facilities.
TransiBar On-line Services
Scriptware developed a web portal called TransiBar. A XML-based
platform that allows customers, project managers, translators
and local reviewers to collaborate.
Image 3. Home Page TransiBar
TransiBar was first announced beginning 2008 as a ‘closed’
portal that required a Login and Password before entering.
Basically it functioned as a webtool that allowed customers
to get a quote after uploading their files and clicking
the [I agree] button to get started. TransiBar consisted
of three basic user groups: customer coordinators, project
managers and translators.
The main idea was to reduce the number of necessary steps
between customer and translator. By virtue of the middle
position of the language service provider this could easily
be up to 4 to 5 layers, that would each store a copy of
the source file and target languages. TransiBar was meant
to improve efficiency, facilitate project management and
to allow customers to get a direct quote.
The application was built on a Java platform, a web content
management system and SQL database. It is hosted in a data
center to create uptime guarantee and internet backbone
speed. The application revolves around XTM, an xml-based
innovative translation memory (TM) engine. This module controls
the centralized TM and automates many of the traditional
processes involved in using it. By using XML with advanced
database and web search technology it outperforms traditional
translation memory systems, enabling substantial reductions
in through put time and translation cost during a typical
document life cycle.
Other functionality includes:
- SSL secured, web-based application
- Direct upload facility of (XML) files by a customer
project coordinator.
- Automatic quote based on repetitions and database match
of previous translations.
- Centralized translation platform for translators.
- Complete translation software functionality based on
open standards.
- Online local reviewer functionality for quality control
purposes.
- Terminology support.
- Full Unicode.
“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”. Frank ter Reehorst, Managing
Director of Scriptware
TransiBar and Industry Developments
“The Web environment offers new challenging business models to the translation industry”, says Frank ter Reehorst,
Director at Scriptware. In his view, the translation industry is rapidly changing and challenging new business models are being launched. Name-your-price, a choice in price, quality or speed and crowdsourcing are but a few of those directions.
Conclusion
The European Library project has been a showcase for TransiBar. It has proven that XML content is well geared for online translation. The combination with representatives
from the national libraries that could review and correct the translations created a smooth workflow that enabled all TransiBar users to collaborate intensively. Future
updates will be easy and fast.
As of summer 2009, The European Library collections will be searchable in 36 languages (including English). It will open up 48 priceless jewel boxes and unveil the European
cultural heritage to all European citizens.
Author Bios
Lizzy Komen, Project Coordinator for The European Library and Europeana.
Lizzy
Komen joined The European Library office in August 2007.
She was born in Haarlem and finalised her Masters degree
in Cultural Studies at the University of Amsterdam in 2007;
her interests lay in the area of ethnology, museums, photography
and colonialism (in particular the Shared Cultural Heritage
between The Netherlands and former Dutch colony Indonesia).
Before joining The European Library, Lizzy worked as an
intern at The Tropical Museum in Amsterdam. She is responsible
for the coordination of the translation of collection descriptions
into all 35 available languages besides English to The European
Library portal. She is also the project coordinator of the
FUMAGABA (2008-2009), a project of The European Library
that aims at integrating the collections of the national
libraries of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine,
Moldova, Albania, Georgia, Armenia, Bosnia Herzegovina and
Azerbaijan. In addition she is project coordinator for EuropeanaLocal
and BHL-Europe, which are both Europeana related projects.
Lizzy loves playing the guitar, photography, movies, cooking
and of course travelling.
Frank ter Reehorst – General Manager Scriptware translations - The Netherlands.
Starting
with IBM after an MBA graduate at the Rotterdam school of
Management, Frank worked in marketing and management positions
in a number of international companies from IT to casual
wear clothing. When joining Scriptware late nineties he
saw the need for industry change. After taking over the
company in 2003, Frank co-founded DocZone.com and realized
a unique new Software- as-a-Service (SaaS) venture in the
US and Europe by integrating CMS and localization functionality.
As of end 2008, Scriptware offers another SaaS-like portal
called TransiBar, a translations webshop with full workflow
capabilities for clients, project manager and translators.
In a changing localization industry, Frank’s focus is on
changing the company and the business model. In his spare
time, he loves to play golf, soccer and singing jazz music.
Published - July 2009
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