Blogg Smogg
World Digital Library
My boyfriend keeps harassing me to start a blog. I’ve finally agreed to it but I still have absolutely no idea what to blog about. So I figure, being a library student I may just join the hoards of other library people and blog about libraries.
This is probably my favourite thing that is going on in the library world about now. This is the link for the World Digital Library, a pretty monumental effort at digitization and a project that to me really represents what libraries are all about.
The concept behind the World Digital Library is to make available digital copies of cultural treasures for viewing by anyone. Think maps, photos, sound recordings, ancient manuscripts… the list goes on. The website is currently available in seven languages and each item is accompanied by a description and thorough metadata.
The project is supported by UNESCO and partnered by about 32 institutions. This number should increase as development continues.
So if you haven’t had a look, check it out. It’s like taking a trip to a National Library from the comfort of your laptop! The site is really easy to meander through as well; there are options for browsing by place, time, and topic, type of item or institution. This makes it valuable for people from all interests- if old maps are your thing, click your way to a bunch of them using the item link. If you’re interested in the history of a certain place, immerse yourself in the cultural treasures on offer. Or give yourself a virtual tour of the National Library of Uganda using the institution option.
I think the greatest thing about the project is the theorizing behind it. It aligns with UNESCO’s goals of promoting knowledge societies and cultural diversity. It’s about openness and sharing. It’s provided free of charge. And that’s what libraries are all about. That’s why I like ‘em.
So. There we go, the first blog. And if your scratching your head and wondering what UNESCO is or puzzling over the concept of a knowledge society then please stay tuned. The next installment of Blogg Schmogg will cover these fascinating subjects ;P
Problem: someone already called their blog bog schmog. The world smells.
