The 9th EODOPEN project meeting found its venue at the National Szechenyi Library (NSZL) in the enchanting city of Budapest, taking place on September 21st and 22nd, 2023. This annual event brought together partner libraries from across Europe to discuss the progress and challenges faced by the EODOPEN project before last year.

Over sixty librarians from fifteen partner institutions representing eleven European countries, including Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, Slovakia, and Slovenia, gathered at the NSZL to engage in two days of discussions, workshops, and presentations. The event provided an opportunity to assess the status of the project, outline future steps, and discuss upcoming tasks.

The meeting commenced with a warm welcome from Rita Radó, Head of the Research and Special Collections Department, Research Organisation Division, at NSZL. Judit Gerencsér, Deputy Director General, officially opened the event.

Iris Zöttl-Oberbichler, EODOPEN Project Manager, presented the conference program, emphasizing the project's key objectives. These objectives include the digitization and accessibility of 20th and 21st-century literary works, improved access to these works for blind, visually impaired, and young users, and addressing the complexities of rights clearance for digital documents. In addition to engaging discussions and presentations, participants had the opportunity to visit the National Library's Digitization Centre, explore the library's facilities, and view its exhibitions.

The 9th EODOPEN project meeting provided a crucial platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective efforts to bring hidden literary treasures to the forefront and enhance digital accessibility. The concluding meeting is scheduled for October 2024 in Tartu, Estonia.

September 28, 2023