AnothÂer big digÂiÂtal archive went live this week. Backed by the UnitÂed Nations, the World DigÂiÂtal Library wants to cenÂtralÂize culÂturÂal treaÂsures from around the world. ManÂuÂscripts, maps, rare books, musiÂcal scores, recordÂings, films, prints, phoÂtographs, and archiÂtecÂturÂal drawÂings — they will all be absorbed into this growÂing online colÂlecÂtion, and users will be able to navÂiÂgate through these mateÂriÂals in sevÂen difÂferÂent lanÂguages (AraÂbic, ChiÂnese, EngÂlish, French, PorÂtuguese, SpanÂish and RussÂian). The colÂlecÂtion (to which Google conÂtributed $3 milÂlion in 2005) now hosts about 1,250 artiÂfacts, a fracÂtion of what it will evenÂtuÂalÂly include. The iniÂtial colÂlecÂtion feaÂtures some gems. Take for examÂple the Tale of the GenÂji, a JapanÂese text from the earÂly 11th cenÂtuÂry that’s often conÂsidÂered “the first great novÂel in world litÂerÂaÂture.” You can also take a close look at some OraÂcle Bones from ChiÂna cirÂca 1200 BC. Or how about these iconÂic phoÂtos from The Great DepresÂsion or these shots of the great JackÂie RobinÂson. To learn more about this new digÂiÂtal archive, read this piece in The WashÂingÂton Post.
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