3 October 2005
Records of Europe's heritage, including books, films, photographs and manuscripts are set to be accessible online, the European Commission has announced.
The proposed digital libraries are one of the key initiatives of the European Commision's "i2010-A European Information Society for growth and jobs."
The initial demand for the creation of European digital libraries was started by a number of European heads of state who wrote to the commission, expressing their fears the wealth of European heritage could be lost to future generations.
The information society and media commissioner, Viviane Reding, shares their sentiments.
"Without a collective memory, we are nothing, and can achieve nothing. It defines our identity and we use it continuously for education, work and leisure," she said.
"The Internet is the most powerful new tool we have had for storing and sharing information since the Gutenberg press, so let's use it to make the material in Europe's libraries and archives accessible to all," she added.
A period of consultation has now begun and the deadline for suggestions and recommendations in January 2006.
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