Modeling the survival of titanic passengers using multicriteria analysis and machine learning methods

In the digital age, preserving and providing access to cultural heritage – especially rare early printed books – has become a key task for academic libraries and archives. Scanning such materials requires specialized technologies that take into account their physical fragility, historical printing methods, and the need for high-quality digital images. Enhancing scanning processes involves adapting modern equipment, using high-precision image processing algorithms, and ensuring minimal physical impact on the materials. This not only preserves the original authenticity of documents but also provides users with accessible and functional digital versions.

Digitizing early printed books poses multiple challenges – from preserving delicate bindings and unique typefaces to difficulties in recognizing texts printed using outdated orthographic norms. Key risks include damage during scanning, reduced image quality due to paper degradation or low contrast, and limitations of conventional software when handling non-standard formats. Data security and backup, along with protection against unauthorized access, are also essential in the digital preservation process.

The article examines both technical and organizational approaches to improving scanning technologies. It analyzes best practices from leading European libraries in digital restoration and presents practical solutions for handling defective pages, enhancing OCR accuracy, and managing metadata. It also explores how artificial intelligence and neural networks can be used to improve outcomes, automate classification, and reconstruct missing fragments. Attention is given to compliance with archival standards and ensuring long-term digital preservation.

Modern approaches to scanning rare printed books are vital for national cultural heritage strategies. They enable the creation of online repositories, support academic research and education, and help promote historical sources to a broader audience. However, successful implementation requires interdisciplinary collaboration between IT specialists, bibliographers, conservators, and archivists to achieve a balance between technical precision and scholarly authenticity.

Keywords: scanning, digitization, early printed books, digital restoration, digital archives, document preservation, information technology, artificial intelligence.

doi: 10.32403/1998-6912-2025-1-70-42-48