Intro

The iConTxt project brings a transformative innovation to the DLBT by integrating advanced artificial intelligence to unlock the full potential of its unique multilingual collections. As one of the most comprehensive and authoritative resources on Dutch literature in translation, the DLBT holds vast scholarly value, yet much of this material remains underused due to language and accessibility barriers. iConTxt directly addresses this challenge. 

Developed collaboratively by eight European universities (see: Cooperations, partners and projects) and in partnership with the Vienna University Library and the Vienna University Computer Centre, the project leverages Large Language Models (LLMs) to automate metadata curation, generate English-language versions and summaries of reception materials, and produce new contextual knowledge derived from existing database materials. In this way, iConTxt transforms isolated records into interconnected, research-ready information. 

By embedding these AI capabilities directly into the YARM^[1] software that powers the DLBT, iConTxt transforms the library into a dynamic, self-enriching research infrastructure. It enables user-friendly access for researchers, students, translators, literary agents, cultural institutions, and policymakers, fostering new opportunities for cross-cultural analysis, educational innovation, and literary exchange. Its open-source design ensures that the resulting tools and methodologies remain freely available to registered users. It enhances global accessibility to cultural heritage, strengthens the visibility of Dutch literature worldwide, and contributes to a broader understanding of literature as a living, transnational ecosystem. 

[1] YARM – Reference management system developed at the Vienna University Library. YARM provides the database and the tools of the DLBT and links the DLBT with PHAIDRA.