On 21st April, the World Digital Library was launched. The World Digital Library brings together digitised primary documents including rare books, maps, manuscripts, films and photographs, from countries around the world, with content available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Inspired by James Billington from the Library of Congress in 2004, it has been developed the LC and UNESCO, with the aims of promoting international understanding, expanding non-English and non-western content online and to contribute to research and education.

Besides the digitised primary documents and recordings, the site will also have videos from curtors explaining their importance and what they show about the culture of that country and that time.

WDL currently has 32 partners from around the world, which they are hoping to increase to 60 by the end of 2009.

The vast majority of content comes from Europe and Latin America, with little from South America or Oceania at this time.  There is a little content about Australia, butwhat is there is well worth investigating.  I highly recommend that you do.