Pearl: A Journal of Library and Information Science

The recent developments in Information and Communication Technology ICT, particularly the World Wide Web (WWW), have changed the scenario of accessing information beyond the concrete walls of traditional libraries, which in turn paved the way for the novel concept of digital libraries. Accordingly, this phenomenon led to the creation of an increasing number of digital library projects globally which is designed to bring a paradigm shift in the ways information is created, retrieved, disseminated and used worldwide. Consequently, present study attempts to evaluate the World Digital Library (WDL) to explore its varied characteristics in terms of no. and range of collection formats, geographical distribution, language diversity, and type of contributing institutions. The evaluation apparently reveals that WDL has emerged to be a vital cultural asset that has duly transformed the traditional concept of library and information system through assimilation of technological advancements and make it possible to discover, study, and enjoy cultural treasures and significant historical documents on one site, in a variety of ways.