Building the European Digital Library

With two Galway Branch Libraries (Ballinasloe and Carraroe) now providing the Europe Direct service the EU has announced plans to rival Google's establishment of a digital online library.

After having spelled out the European Commission’s plans for a European Digital Library last month, Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding recently chaired the first meeting of the High Level Expert Group on Digital Libraries. The group will advise the Commission on how to tackle key challenges in making Europe’s cultural heritage available online.
“Our goal is to make Europe’s cultural and scientific heritage available to all European citizens and researchers for their studies, work or leisure,” Commissioner Reding commented. “With its immense expertise and knowledge, this group can make an essential contribution to the European Digital Library”.

The group discussed the Commission's vision for the European Digital Library (see IP/06/253) and set up a framework for future discussions. The group also had a first exchange of views on copyright issues. In a recent online consultation, right-holders supported the adequacy of the present copyright rules and the need to fully respect and enforce them, while cultural institutions highlighted a number of problems in the present copyright framework that could potentially undermine efficient digitisation and digital preservation. The High Level Expert Group has 20 members, together possessing a wide range of expertise and knowledge. They are experts from libraries, archives, museums, content providers, industry (e.g. search engines, technology providers), research organisations and academia.