British Library Spearheading
Virtual European Library
The concept of a virtual European Library that offers access to the digital resources of libraries throughout the continent moved a step closer in May with the launching of a 30-month project to set standards to improve resource sharing across national boundaries.
The British Library is serving as the coordinator for The European Library (TEL) project, which is funded by the European Commission’s Information Societies Technology program. British Library Chief Executive Lynne Brindley said in the May 15 BBC News, “We are extremely pleased to be leading this important project to improve access to the digital resources of major European national libraries.”
Partners in the program include the national libraries of Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Slovenia, and Switzerland; the Conference of European National Librarians (CENL) headquartered at The Hague; the Helsinki University Library in Finland; and the National Center for the Union Catalogue in Rome.
More than 40 other national libraries in CENL are being invited to monitor the project’s progress and become fully involved when the trial period has concluded.
Posted May 28, 2001.
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