Checking Out Tomorrow's Library

The World Digital Library is being developed by the Library of Congress in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Librarian of Congress, James H. Billinfgton says, "The site 'has an enormous educational potential'... noting that its content is being designed particularly with children in mind. 'It has the capacity both to inspire respect for other cultures and their histories and stories, but at the same time to establish critical thinking.' Go to the complete article as published in the Washington Post and the World Digital Library website for complete information. Until WDL is ready remember the American Memory Web site which is the general model for the WDL is the Library of Congress's National Digital Library Program, launched in the mid-1990s and offers 11 million digital files culled from U.S. historical records -- from the Declaration of Independence and Civil War photographs to early Thomas Edison movies and recordings of interviews with former slaves.