Serageldin Opens the World Digital Library Partners and Stakeholders Meeting in Quebec
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Alexandria—
Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria, opened the World Digital Library Partners and Stakeholders Meeting held in Quebec, Canada on Sunday, 10 August 2008, with a welcoming address to the new and prospective partners of the Project. New and prospective partners will be from China, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Qatar, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, and Taiwan.
The meeting was convened to discuss recent developments and future plans; to welcome the newly joined partners; and lay the groundwork in an informal way for a future governance model for the WDL as an organization, which presumably will include annual meetings of partners, a board, advisory board, etc.
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and Ismail Serageldin had previously signed an agreement on 10 of April 2007, at the Library of Congress. The agreement outlined four areas, in which the two institutions will cooperate in building a World Digital Library. Along with other libraries and cultural institutions from around the world, both institutions will contribute content to the World Digital Library and work together on the design and implementation of the architecture of the World Digital Library.
The objectives of the WDL are to promote international and inter-cultural understanding and awareness; expand the volume and increase the variety of content on the Internet; provide resources for educators, scholars, and general audiences; and build capacity in partner institutions in ways that will narrow the digital divides within and between countries.