In future you will be able to consult every dossier from the Federal Archives online, with analogue dossiers being digitised to order. The Federal Archives are implementing this vision in two projects: one for the web portal and one for the digitisation infrastructure. This page includes a timetable and project news.
The Federal Archives online – any time, anywhere
The Swiss Federal Archives are working on a project that will allow you to access the full range of archival services online, wherever and whenever you want. You will be able to receive information, carry out research, read documents, place digitisation orders, submit requests to consult records and view dossiers (both analogue and digital) online. In the medium term, visits to the reading room will no longer be necessary.
For the general public: The Federal Archives provides a comprehensive online access service featuring expanded search options that also works on mobile devices.
For the administration: Thanks to improved rights management, submitting authorities will have easier access to their own
records.
The projects
Online access to the Federal Archives is being developed via two projects: one for the web portal and one for the
infrastructure used to digitise analogue dossiers when they are ordered.
It is being implemented in two stages. By the time the web portal goes live in 2019, the Federal Archives expect to be able to deliver some orders in digital form. The reading room will remain available. By 2021 the capacity of the digitisation infrastructure will be increased to allow all orders to be delivered digitally. At the same time, on-site facilities will be progressively scaled back. The Federal Archives’ services will be available online everywhere and at all times.
Timetable
| End of 2018 | Completion of development work on the web portal |
| August 2019 | Access for individual pilot users |
| 25.11.2019 | Online access to the Federal Archives available to all users |
| 2021 | Finalisation of the digitisation infrastructure |
Project news
21.09.2020 Prototype data challenge The Federal Archives’ data challenge encouraged those with a creative mindset to use the search API and experiment with the metadata. Three prototypes emerged:
GEO UNPLUGGED visualises search results on a map of the world.
- GitHub: https://github.com/powerthx/sfa-challenge
- Author: Tim S. Arnold
The visual platform Mímir can be used to navigate from main department to document in the archive plan. It shows the extent of the fonds at a glance.
- WebApp: https://mimir.si.usi.ch
- GitLab: https://gitlab.reveal.si.usi.ch/_public/mimir
- Authors: Roberto Minelli, Aron Fiechter, Federico Pfahler, Michele Lanza, Davide Paolo Tua (Software Institute, USI - Lugano)
Using a saved search link, the results list download can be used to generate a results list in the form of a CSV file that can be edited locally.
- WebApp: http://bar-datenchallange.dodis.ch
- GitLab: https://source.dodis.ch/bar
- Author: tobinski
In addition to creating the prototypes, the authors also offered some important suggestions for improving the API. Many thanks for all your hard work!
18.05.2020 Data challenge At the Swiss Federal Archives, we’re looking for creative ways to improve access to our documents. Take up the SFA’s data challenge!
Write an app using our data search API and maybe we’ll incorporate it into the Federal Archives’ online access platform. The challenge runs until 18 August 2020. View the complete tender text (PDF, 2 MB, 18.05.2020).
25.11.2019 Go-Live! Research, digitisation, downloads and advice: online access to the Federal Archives brings all these services together on a single web portal (www.recherche.bar.admin.ch). From today, it is available to all users. In the medium term, the Federal Archives plan to make all documents available in digital form. To this end, the digitisation structure is being further expanded between now and 2021.
22.07.2019 After the summer break we’ll be launching the pilot phase, during which we’ll be opening online access up to selected users. In the meantime, we present some figures about the online access (in german):
28.02.2019 - Slowly but surely, our online access service is nearing completion. Check out the following image gallery for some initial impressions direct from our new platform:
Newsletter
Starting in autumn 2018 the Federal Archives will be sending out a newsletter about online access. Sign up now to receive it.
Last modification 24.09.2020
Contact
Swiss Federal Archives
Archivstrasse 24
3003 Bern
- Tel.
- +41 58 462 89 89
Opening hours reading room
Tu-Th, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.