Consultation of manuscripts online : A qualitative study of three potential user categories

International audienceDuring the Europeana Regia project, a qualitative study was conducted by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) to determine and rank the expectations and needs of the current and potential users of medieval manuscripts on line. Focus groups were organized in three of the project's partner libraries: the BnF, the Biblioteca Històrica de la Universitat de València and the Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België. Each focus group was dedicated to one of the user categories primarily targeted in the project: 1) researchers and academics; 2) History, Arts and Applied Arts teachers in high schools; 3) the interested general public, such as users of the digital library Gallica . The study has confirmed the considerable interest of researchers and academics in this project, but has also pointed out their demanding standards. For History, Arts and Applied Arts teachers in high schools, the project is seen as an excellent potential teaching aid, but it would require suggestions for courses, themed presentations, selections and a considerable effort to provide mediation. Interest in the project is less marked in the interested general public, who would only consult medieval manuscripts and illuminated manuscripts from time to time, often motivated by family or cultural events