Global Digital Library Presented to GRN Membership

This in-person and virtual event provided an introduction to the Global Digital Library (GDL), an initiative of the Global Book Alliance, led by the Norwegian Government, which aims to improve access to reading books by collecting high quality, openly licensed books and making them available online for print and digital use, as well as adaptation. The GDL currently provides books in 15 languages. By the end of 2020 the library will provide titles in more than 100 languages.

Christer Gundersen, Chief Technology Officer at the Norwegian Digital Learning Arena and project lead for the Global Digital Library, gave a presentation and demonstration of the platform and provided information on how to draw from and contribute to the resources on the GDL. USAID and its partners, in future, will prioritize the sharing of reading resources through the Global Digital Library. Potential grants and contracts issued by the agency are likely in the future to incorporate clauses asking that all USG-funded materials be shared with the GDL once they are approved by host country ministries.