The Global Digital Library (GDL) is being developed to increase the availability of high quality mother tongue learning resources worldwide.
The GDL-project is currently in an initial stage; establishing the implementation plan and steering structure and piloting the technical platform. The Global Digital Library will expand access to mother tongue (MT) content by providing openly licensed, downloadable materials that allow sharing, electronic use and large scale printing, as well as linking to other sources for those materials.
The initial focus will be on learning resources that can support children’s literacy learning. Other learning resources will be included at a later stage. The GDL platform will hold digital copies of Creative Commons or otherwise openly licensed, publicly accessible materials in print-ready formats. The primary licenses for the GDL will be CC BY and CC BY-SA. These licenses drive innovation and creativity, including commercial reuse. They also support the overall goal of sharing, translation and re-contextualization of early grade reading educational materials, open textbooks and other open educational resources. Target audience
The target audiences for the GDL include ministries of education, school managers, teachers, donor agencies and their implementing partners, international and national non-governmental organizations, local publishers and households in developing countries. The platform will be open for all users, including end users with access to mobile devices and internet. The GDL’s initial purpose is to support access to early-grade reading materials in children’s mother tongues. Other types of learning resources are expected to be included at a later stage.
