Center for Research Libraries
Project Title
For planning a more inclusive and sustainable World Digital Library
Date
Dec. 06, 2018
Duration
15 months
Description
To promote international understanding after the September 11th attacks, James Billington, Librarian of Congress from 1987 to 2015, proposed the creation of an Internet-based library that would make the world’s cultural heritage materials easily accessible. His vision came to fruition in 2009 with the establishment of the World Digital Library (WDL). Today, the WDL contains more than 19,000 rare books, manuscripts, maps, prints and photographs, films, and sound recordings contributed by 158 libraries, archives and museums in 60 countries. It holds approximately 1.1 million pages of content, in 145 languages. The site averages 800,000 international visitors per month and, since its inception, has had nearly 55 million people from every country in the world have visit the site. The WDL is of particular importance for states that have lost access to many of these documents through colonialism, war, internal upheaval, or natural disasters. Since its founding, the WDL has been under the auspices of the Library of Congress, which ended the partnership this year. Carnegie Corporation is providing support for WDL’s planning effort to become a self-sustaining entity under a new host and managing organization.
Website
Project Title
For an open web repository of civil society documentation
Date
Jun. 12, 2014
Duration
24 months