Royal Library of Belgium partners with Google to digitise 100,000 books
The Royal Library of Belgium (KBR) and Google Books are joining forces to digitise around 100,000 books over three years, the KBR announced in a press release on Wednesday. The collaboration is expected to significantly increase the number of books available in the library's online collection by 2026.
"As part of a collaboration that began in 2022, 100,000 books, some dating back to the 17th century, will be made freely available through KBR's digital library and Google Books in the coming years," the statement said. In total, 30,000 to 40,000 books will be digitised each year.
The KBR is not the only Belgian library to work with Google Books to digitise its collection. In November 2023, Belgium's largest university, KU Leuven, announced a partnership with Google to digitise its libraries. Over the next two years, more than 70,000 books with more than 20 million pages will be digitised and made available to the public.
"This partnership is in line with our desire to make the knowledge and heritage we preserve available to the widest possible audience"
The first truck of KBR books left for Google Books' European digitisation facility last week. A shipment will be organised every eight weeks to meet the annual target.
"I am delighted to see this partnership taking shape, as it is in line with our desire to make the knowledge and heritage we preserve available to the widest possible audience," said Sara Lammens, director general of the KBR. "By partnering with Google Books, we can speed up the process of putting our documents online, thereby increasing their visibility and accessibility."
Exhibition on the library of the Dukes of Burgundy, at the KBR Museum © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
Related news
