The National Digital Data Archives

The National Digital Data Archives, the organisation in charge of coordinating the digitisation activities carried out by various Hungarian cultural institutions was launched as a government initiative but aims to reach a professional consensus involving a wide range of collaborating partners. The network structure based on the Open Archives Initiative makes it possible for data owners to make their collections available within a controlled system. As the system is supported out of the central budget, it was designed with the maximum consideration of cost-effectiveness, control and accountability. The application of international standards, the newly launched search engine, the metadata structures elaborated by the expert groups, the free and easily customizable features all play a role in the expansion and enhancement of the system.