Huge European online library opens today
Europeana, Europe’s multimedia online library opens to the public later today.
At www.europeana.eu Internet users around the world can now access more than two million books, maps, recordings, photographs, archival documents, paintings and films from national libraries and cultural institutions of the EU's 27 Member States.
"Europeana opens up new ways of exploring Europe’s heritage: anyone interested in literature, art, science, politics, history, architecture, music or cinema will have free and fast access to Europe's greatest collections and masterpieces in a single virtual library through a web portal available in all EU languages," the EU said.
In 2010, Europeana will give access to millions of items representing Europe's rich cultural diversity and will have interactive zones such as communities for special interests. The European Commission also plans to involve the private sector in the further expansion of Europe's digital library.
José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission; said: "With Europeana, we combine Europe's competitive advantage in communication and networking technologies with our rich cultural heritage. Europeans will now be able to access the incredible resources of our great collections quickly and easily in a single space. Europeana is much more than a library, it is a veritable dynamo to inspire 21st century Europeans to emulate the creativity of innovative forbears like the drivers of the Renaissance. Just imagine the possibilities it offers students, art-lovers or scholars to access, combine and search the cultural treasures of all Member States online. This is a strong demonstration of the fact that culture is at the heart of European integration."
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Paul Buhagiar
Nov 21st 2008, 12:00
Certainly worth a visit. We will have to wait until it is up again because it has crashed from the immense number of visitors. Hope to see a flourishing Maltese presence. We should actually have an ongoing project where all the local councils participate in exhibiting all that is worth visiting in their area. School children should have a yearly project where they say why they like their neighbourhood and also what they dislike about it. Local councils should also send a questionaire to their residents with these two questions, collate the answers and use the results to plan future projects in their neighbourhood.
C.R.Taliana
Nov 21st 2008, 09:22
Went to take a look at this online library, but will have to wait until mid-December!!!!
Geoffrey Mifsud Farrugia
Nov 21st 2008, 08:26
2 short comments. internet users around the world will have to postpone browsing through the new EU site. It doent even open!
Re Maltese. We are responsible for the promotion of our language first and foremost. We are slowly removing our own language as a requirement for University Courses, starting from the law course - i wonder why! And then you wonder why question why our language is not amongst the other EU ones.
J Gauci
Nov 21st 2008, 07:11
"Massive use is slowing europeana down. We are working on it... please come back later."
B. Pollacco
Nov 20th 2008, 22:08
Wiki here i come....and in Maltese to !
lgalea
Nov 20th 2008, 21:04
DON'T BOTHER. SERVICE IS TEMPORARY SUSPENDED!
Daniel Abdilla
Nov 20th 2008, 18:24
For all of you whom just critisice but dont read the Actual Content, There is a Shiny Orange Circle which say: 'Beta'
I dont konw you but i think it istil under testing.
martin saliba
Nov 20th 2008, 17:44
What do you expect? Malta isn't even on the map of the bank notes!
Joseph Mizzi
Nov 20th 2008, 13:13
Maltese is not included in the drop-down menu on the top right-hand side of the europeana welcome page. How come the site is not available in Maltese?! After all the talk about Maltese being one of the official EU languages! In my opinion, this is a serious matter and should be seen to immediately.
P Scerri
Nov 20th 2008, 12:52
I suppose it would be interesting if the website actually opened!
Not surprised Maltese isn't included - Nothing new!
Olina Tretyak
Nov 20th 2008, 12:35
24 European languages but Maltese.
Very weak hosting, pages take half an hour to open.
Will try to make any use of this website, thanks for informing.
Ray Bajada
Nov 20th 2008, 12:27
"masterpieces in a single virtual library through a web portal available in all EU languages," the EU said."
Have I missed something in the last 4 years? Is Maltese an EU language any more? Maltese is not listed as a language choice in the mentioned web portal!