The World Digital Library is a collaboration between numerous libraries, including the Library of Congress, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the National Library of China, the Russian State Library and many others, attempting "to promote international and intercultural understanding, expand the volume and variety of cultural content on the Internet, provide resources for educators, scholars, and general audiences, and to build capacity in partner institutions to narrow the digital divide within and among countries."

Announced in 2005, it finally launched on April 21st, 2009, at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.