In 2009 UNESCO and the U.S. Library of Congress, along with 32 partner institutions, launched, the World Digital Library, a website that features unique cultural materials from libraries and archives from around the world. The site includes manuscripts, maps, rare books, films, sound recordings, prints and photographs. It provides unrestricted public access, free of charge, to this material. The principal objectives of the WDL are 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; build capacity in partner institutions to narrow the digital divide within and between countries.