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Introduction

The Digital Reading Room (DRR) is an application intended to replace old technologies in traditional reading rooms, such as microfilm readers and direct handling of the source material. It allows users and record custodians to browse and see in a single location their entire collection with an easy to use interface and sensible number of features out-of-the box. For more advanced needs, it also provides a sensible number of options for customization.

The current version 2+ merges in one single application what was previously distributed as the “Digital Reading Room Standalone Edition” and the “Digital Reading Room Desktop Server Edition”. All their functionalities are now available in one install.

The basic concepts driving the development are:

  • The DRR is an advanced image viewer and metadata navigator.
  • Images are accessed from the local storage unit, and never embedded into the system. This way, the record custodian always has control over them.
  • The local area network service provides the same or better functionality as the desktop application.
  • The DRR allows custodians to add, edit and remove their collections, and create new ones from their own images without vendor-lock.
  • The DRR is not prepared, or intended for public Internet use, paywalls, or user rights management
  • The DRR is given by FamilySearch to record custodians, archives, and other organizations respecting their rights over the source material (images and data).
  • The software is distributed and delivered “as is”, with no further support beyond the initial install.

Did you know?
The development of the DRR started in 2014 with the feedback from multiple archives and records custodians. A special collaboration was made with the Genealogical Archive of Northumberland, United Kingdom. The DRR has been installed now in more than 300 locations in Europe, and much more in Latin America, Africa, Oceania, and other parts of the world.

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