Digital libraries: Uganda joins the World Digital library

Finally, Uganda joins the World Digital Library (WDL) project after receiving the expensive equipment   from Carnegie Corporation of New York and Google.

During the handover of the equipment, the National Library of Uganda (NLU) director, Gertrude Kayaga Mulindwa, said WDL is intended to promote international and inter-cultural understanding mainly among young people. Uganda, which has a rich culture, is joining other nations in making items it considers to be of great historical value accessible to the rest of the world.

WDL is an Internet-based source of information initiated by the Librarian of Congress, James Billington. Bibliotheca Alexandrina of Alexandria Egypt, the National Library of Brazil, the National Library of Egypt, the National Library of Russia and the Russian State Library partly contributed to the development of the WDL. Unlike other forms of information storage the WDL will only store information the country regards as unique.

“WDL focuses on major primary information materials such as manuscripts, maps, rare books, sounds recordings, films, prints, photographs and architectural drawings all in their original forms and languages,” said Ms Mulindwa. Different librarians said the system will enable the country expose its treasures to the world. Further, since information institutions can digitize vital documents the country will no longer lose or damage its unique information as a management unit has been established at the NLU.

Launched last year at UNESCO in Paris, NLU signed an agreement with the Library of Congress that would see it participate in the WDL project. This paved the way for the delivery of equipment in January and the setting up of the Digital Scan Centre at the NLU.