Europeana

The central access point to European cultural heritage which became known as “European digital library” (EDL) has changed its name. From now on the one and only correct title is Europeana. This news was revealed during a big international conference taken place just before the weekend. During the same event a very first demo version of the cross-domain service was presented.

Taken from the many positive reactions and the spontaneous applause right after the presentation of Europeana, the conference was a big success.

NB: More details will follow soon!!

 

For now:

Europeana (formerly known as European digital library or EDL) will give integrated access to Europe’s cultural richness. Users of this cross-domain service will be able to search and explore books, music, films, archival resources and many more material that has been made available by museums, archives, libraries and audio-visual institutions from across Europe.

Europeana is built upon the framework of The European Library. The latter gives combined access to the resources of Europe’s national libraries. Users can search cross-library or focus on one particular national library. The portal also gives free access to a whole range of cultural treasures and includes a web-exhibition on postcards. To try it out go to http://www.TheEuropeanLibrary.org

 

Job

The European Digital Library is looking for a Developer.

This person (you?) will take part in the creation of the European Digital Library accessing the cultural heritage items and collections of the Museums, Archives, Audio-visual Archives and Libraries of Europe.

Follow this link for further details.

NB: The European Library, hosted by the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, has received funding from the European Union to undertake a project to develop the European Digital Library. Please check the overview page for more information.

 

European Parliament about EDL – press release July 07

Europe’s cultural heritage only a click away?

Culture – 17-07-2007 – 09:34

 

Access to Europe’s cultural heritage should be made much easier though the creation of the European digital library, the Committee on Culture and Education says in a report adopted on Monday. It is backing a Commission plan to set up a European digital library as a direct access point to the European cultural heritage and stresses the importance of multilingual access to the databases.

For a large number of people, particularly young people, the Internet has become one of the principal means of access to knowledge. Therefore, says the committee, it is important to make use of the digital technology to promote, safeguard and disseminate the wealth and diversity of the European cultural heritage as widely as possible.

In the own-initiative report by Marie-Hélène Decamps (EPP-ED, FR) MEPs back the setting up of a digital library in as a single, direct and multilingual access point to the European cultural heritage. The long term aim of the initiative should be to establish a tool that covers all categories of cultural material – not only books, but also audiovisual material. In the initial phase however focus should be put on text material free of copyright.

The committee stresses the importance of having a multilingual interface that gives direct access to the content in all EU languages. It should also be possible to conduct the searches in all languages.

The MEPs say that existing initiatives in Europe that connect libraries and give access to national European library collections should contribute to the creation of the European digital library. As for funding, the committee says new methods of financing must be developed – including partnerships with the private sector.

The European Commission’s proposals were outlined in a paper put forward in September 2005, after six Heads of State and their respective Governments called in April that year for the creation of a virtual European library.

Procedure: Own-initiative report — Plenary vote: September II, Strasbourg — Report on i2010: Towards a European digital Library

16/07/2007
Committee on Culture and Education
In the chair : Nikolaos Sifunakis (PES, EL)

REF.: 20070716IPR09198

Contact: Malene Chaucheprat Press Service : cult-press@europarl.europa.eu : (32-2) 28 42530 (BXL) : (33-3) 881 64123 (STR) : (+32) 498 98 33 25