Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
4-19-2019
Abstract
Introduction: The World Digital Library, one of the hallmark digital preservation initiatives with a global perspective was launched by the UNESCO and the U.S. Library of Congress in collaboration with 32 partner institutions on April 21, 2009. The World Digital Library archives and provides access to unique cultural materials from libraries, archives, museums, educational institutions, and international organizations from 193 countries around the world. It aims at promoting international and intercultural understanding, expand the volume and variety of cultural content on the Internet, provide resources for educators, scholars, and general audiences, and to narrow the information divide within and among countries by capacity building in partner institutions.
Objectives: The World Digital Library provides unprecedented, free of charge access to significant primary historic materials including; manuscripts, maps, rare books, films, sound recordings, prints and photographs. The aim of the present study is to analyze such resources on the basis of the regional attributes, lingual patterns, time periods, subject coverage and institutional contribution.
Methodology: The World Digital Library website is being explored to retrieve the information to examine its collection on various facets.
Results: The maximum number of resources in the World Digital Library is available on Europe (7276), dealing with History and Geography (16,135), contributed by the Library of Congress (8537) and available in the Arabic language (2830).
Implications: The study can act as an indicator highlighting the importance of the WDL as a promising platform for preservation, access and descent of global cultural and heritage resources.