The Library of Congress, with the help of UNESCO, recently launched the World Digital Library, an online collection of primary source materials. Contributions have been made by partner institutions in many countries. Content includes, but is not limited to: maps, manuscripts, prints, photographs, architectural drawings, and recordings. The site functions in seven different languages and can be browsed by Place, Time, Topic, Type of Item, and Institution. Browsing results within the Arts & Recreation topic, for example, can then be narrowed by place, time, additional topics, item type, or institution.

Objectives of the World Digital Library include:

• Promote international and intercultural understanding;
• Expand the volume and variety of cultural content on the Internet;
• Provide resources for educators, scholars, and general audiences;
• Build capacity in partner institutions to narrow the digital divide within and between countries.

Many high-quality images are available for download. Some rare books are also scanned in their entirety and available as PDFs, including this second Augsburg edition of Aesop’s Fables.

Modern and contemporary art from VAGA member artists
The Visual Artists and Galleries Association (VAGA) and ARTstor have reached an agreement through which approximately 4,000 images by VAGA member artists are now available to ARTstor users. More images by VAGA artists will be made available as additional collections of modern and contemporary art are added to ARTstor. More

Manuscripts and early printed books from the Bodleian Library
ARTstor is pleased to announce the first launch of over 4,000 high quality images of manuscripts and early printed books from the Bodleian Library at Oxford University. More

Architectural history of Venice, Italy
ARTstor has added approximately 200 photographs from Sarah Quill’s unique photographic archive depicting the buildings and civil live of Venice. More