German
Urban lexicon in transition: celebrating a shared milestone
The event "Stadtlexikon im Wandel - analog wird digital" took place on 20.05.2026 with great resonance and in a special atmosphere. Together with numerous authors of the Stadtlexikon, the Smart City Jena project celebrated an important milestone for the future of this unique work.
The focus was on the digitization of the city lexicon - a project that is being implemented as a joint initiative with JenaKultur. The printed reference work is currently being transformed into a lively, digital knowledge resource that is being continuously expanded and is a work in progress.
The event offered insights into the current status and the next steps - and particularly good news: the new website will go online with the first texts on 17.06.2026 and will therefore be freely accessible to all citizens. The Stadtlexikon is thus opening up even more to urban society and inviting people to rediscover historical knowledge. Information on people, events, institutions and topics from the city's history and more are located on the city map and can be contextualized with the help of historical maps.
In addition to the project presentation, the main focus was on personal exchange. Many of the authors present contributed their perspectives and engaged in lively discussions about the further development of the digital offering.
A special moment was the express thanks to all contributors: Without the great commitment and professional expertise of the editors and authors, the Stadtlexikon would not have been conceivable in its current form. This appreciation characterized the entire event.
At the same time, it became clear that the project will continue to develop in the future. Numerous participants signaled their interest in continuing to support the digital city lexicon - as contributors of ideas, as multipliers or as volunteers. Further development will continue to be structurally sound, coordinated and quality-assured.
The event has impressively demonstrated this: The Stadtlexikon is not a finished book, but a collaborative project that is growing, changing and opening up new perspectives.