LONDON -- The British Library on Wednesday unveiled a new computer-based system allowing visitors to electronically "turn the pages" of precious manuscripts.
The interactive device, created by an in-house team of software developers, was presented to the public at the opening of the library's three new exhibition galleries. The exhibit is not mirrored on the library's Web site.
Using animation and high-quality digitized images, it can simulate the actual turning of pages or the unrolling of a scroll on the screen.
"We wanted people to get as much as possible the feeling of turning pages," said Jane Carr, who started thinking about the project 10 years ago.
Currently on display were images from the Sforza Hours, the Lindisfarne Gospels, the Diamond Sutra -- the world's earliest printed book -- and Codex Arundel, a Leonardo da Vinci notebook.
By touching and dragging their finger across the screen visitors can look through the manuscripts, magnify areas of the books, read on-screen text, or listen to the audio commentary.
Features of the display included a special "mirror" button reversing da Vinci's characteristic "secret" writing, which is read from right to left.
Carr said the library wanted to show at least two new electronic manuscripts every year and was considering selling the software.
It took around 18 months for Clive Izard, the library's head of audio and visual services, to develop the project, which works with high-quality conventional pictures stored on a computer.
"With the current technology and digital photography, I think we could develop software for a 20-25 page manuscript for about 10,000 to 15,000 pounds (US$25,000)," Carr said.
The new British Library, a controversial red-brick building whose cost far exceeded the original budget, was opened last November.
The move of approximately 12 million books and a staff of 1,000 into the new headquarters is expected to be completed in 1999.
