Collaborative Librarianship

Volume 4 Issue 3 Article 7

2012

Review of World

Christine Baker Arthur Lakes Library, Colorado School of Mines, [email protected]

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Recommended Citation Baker, Christine (2012) "Review of World Digital Library," Collaborative Librarianship: Vol. 4 : Iss. 3 , Article 7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29087/2012.4.3.07 Available at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/collaborativelibrarianship/vol4/iss3/7

This Review is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ DU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Collaborative Librarianship by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ DU. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected]. Baker: Review of World Digital Library

Review of World Digital Library

Christine Baker ([email protected]) Arthur Lakes Library, Colorado School of Mines

Access: http://www.wdl.org/en/ tools are available in seven languages, the item itself is presented in its original language. In 2005, the introduced the concept of “an Internet-based, easily-accessible Locating content and navigating the site are collection of the world’s cultural riches that very user-friendly. There are five initial browse would tell the stories and highlight the achieve- categories that cover “Place,” “Time,” “Topic,” ments of all countries and cultures, thereby “Type of Item,” and contributing “Institution.” promoting cross-cultural awareness and under- Once a category is selected, users are able to fur- standing.” This was presented to the U.S. Na- ther narrow their search by using these various tional Commission for the United Nations Edu- categories again as well as “Language” and cational, Scientific and Cultural Organization “Additional Subjects.” As the search continues (UNESCO). The end result is the freely- to narrow, more options within a selected cate- available World Digital Library (WDL) launched gory are presented. However, search results in April of 2009, a highly educational and cul- within all categories are listed in descending turally rich resource for “educators, scholars, order from most items to least items in any cate- and general audiences.” Along with the Library gory, rather than in alphabetical order. Despite of Congress, numerous partner institutions and this, the browse feature is very effective in locat- financial contributors have supported the devel- ing relevant materials. There is also the more opment of this site by providing content, fund- commonly used “Search” box available at the ing, or services. The “About” section, accessible top of each screen for finding items within the from the WDL homepage, provides more collection. information regarding its development and mission. The collection’s content currently rep- Another useful feature is the bar toward the top resents all UNESCO member countries and en- of the screen that displays the path of a particu- compasses full-text primary sources and materi- lar search by listing, in order, the Browse op- als. tions that have been selected by the user, thus, enabling users to backtrack and adjust their Items in the WDL are available in a variety of search without getting lost in the process. Addi- formats and include books, maps, photographs, tionally, a “similar items” or “related items” fea- musical scores, and much more. Some examples ture is available for each search result that pro- include a short motion picture entitled, Emi- motes further discovery. Much of the metadata grants [i.e. Immigrants] Landing at for each item is also hyperlinked so that digital (1903) in MPEG format and a Japanese book en- files by the same creator, or the same topic, or titled, Gifts from the Ebb Tide (ca. 1789) that fea- where other metadata are shared, can be located tures woodblock prints and poems. Items in the quickly and easily. WDL include unique and consistent metadata and thorough content description. These de- The WDL uses “state-of-the-art tools and tech- scriptions, authored by experts, are highly in- nologies” and it shows in the quality of the dig- formative and, as noted in the “Background” itized materials in their collection. The collec- section of the web site, not only explain what the tion continues to grow – currently there are item is but why an item is important. There are nearly 6,500 items. A “Recently Added or Up- also some interviews with curators as well as dated Items” section on the homepage helps to opportunities for advanced image viewing for present the database in fresh and new ways. items within the WDL. While the content de- The WDL also utilizes Twitter with almost scriptions and metadata as well the navigation 13,000 followers at last glance.

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As part of its mission, the WDL strives to “pro- mote international and intercultural under- standing.” One could spend hours exploring the material within this expansive digital collection and achieve a higher level of cultural awareness in the process. The World Digital Library is a wonderful example of a collaborative effort involving many organ-izations. It will be exciting to watch both its collection and capabilities grow over time.

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