Zurich Open Platform (ZOP)

As the cantonal, city and university library, Zentralbibliothek Zürich collects publications from and about Zurich (Turicensia).  

It does so as comprehensively as possible, makes its holdings publicly accessible and stores them securely. In this way, the ZB plays an important role in preserving the historical and cultural memory of the canton. 

The ZOP platform

With the Zurich Open Platform (ZOP), the ZB has had an open-access repository since 2021 that enables it to fulfil its duty to maintain a collection for the increasing number of new digital publications. Important holdings from the 19th and 20th centuries can also be digitised and published on ZOP.   

ZOP is thus the starting point for thematic research on Zurich’s local characteristics and in regional, national and international contexts.   

Key topics

• Local and regional history publications   

• Club magazines   

• Annual reports   

• Local press   

• Blogs, podcasts   

Digitised holdings of the ZB:   

• Address books   

• Community chronicles (ongoing project)   

• Necrologies   

• Statistical reports   

• Zurich dissertations from up to 1900 (ongoing project)   

IIIF

The content digitised specifically at the ZB will be made available for reuse in 2025 via the International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF). ZOP thus joins the Swiss platforms e-manuscripta, e-rara and e-codices, where the most valuable parts of the historical Turicensia collections (up to 1800) are available.    

Collaborations

ZOP not only provides access to the publications of the Zentralbibliothek, but also the holdings of other cultural and scientific institutions in the city and canton.   

If you are an institution or private individual interested in making your publications available to the public or if you have general questions about ZOP, please feel free to contact us.