Science Day is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of access to knowledge and on the role of institutions that enable it. Among these, libraries play a key role, as they are no longer merely repositories of materials but active partners in scientific research. At the National and University Library (Slovenia), projects developed in cooperation with universities and research institutes bring together the humanities, data science, and artificial intelligence.

»By connecting the humanities, social sciences, and computer science, NUK is developing new approaches to accessing, processing, and using knowledge. In the fields of digital humanities, artificial intelligence, and data spaces, innovative tools are being created for advanced analysis and for the preservation of cultural heritage in the digital environment, « said Dr. Alenka Kavčič-Čolić, Head of NUK’s Research Group.

In the field of digital humanities, NUK collaborates with the University of Nova Gorica on research into machine learning for handwriting recognition. In one such study, student Emilija Vućićević trained the eScriptorium model using library materials related to the manuscripts of Zofka Kveder; next year, the model will be tested on previously undigitised letters.

Potential future research directions—many of which rely on machine learning and artificial intelligence—include natural language processing, network analysis, and large-scale data analysis. Through accelerated digitization, the introduction of modern research infrastructure, and the development of AI tools, opportunities for accessing, analysing, and processing materials will continue to expand.

NUK also participates in numerous projects focused on the preservation, digital accessibility, and restoration of materials for future generations. Notable among these are NextGenHS, within which NUK researchers are developing new analytical methods for better understanding, preservation, and protection of archival and library materials, and the ABC project, to which NUK contributed the development of new methods for dating paper and parchment using infrared spectroscopy.

NUK places special emphasis on user experience, the sustainable operation of libraries, and open science, thereby promoting transparency, accessibility, and the socially responsible use of knowledge. We are particularly proud of the open science project From Manuscript to Word, dedicated to the manuscripts of Srečko Kosovel. Upon completion of the project, Kosovel’s manuscripts will, for the first time, be fully searchable on the Digital Library of Slovenia (dLib.si)—opening up a new way of reading and researching Slovenia’s literary heritage.