I found this post to the chapters list interesting, so I'm forwarding it here as well.

David

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Michal Reiter ch.mabot@gmail.com Date: Sun, Sep 16, 2012 at 3:30 AM Subject: [Chapters] Europeana’s huge cultural dataset opens for re-use To: chapters@wikimedia.ch

FYA:

...

Dear Colleagues,

Today we are publicly announcing that Europeana http://www.europeana.eu/portal/

has opened up its dataset of over 20 million cultural objects for free re-use. This significant innovation has come about thanks to the vision shown by all of you, the cultural heritage organisations that make up Europeana

This release, by far the largest one-time dedication of cultural data to the public domain using CC0, represents a real step change for cultural organisations in open data access and it offers a new boost to the digital economy as open data can fuel enterprise and create opportunities for those in the creative industries.

Today’s press release: http://e2.ma/message/btwec/365c1c

Next week we will be further highlighting the news at the Open Knowledge Festival in Helsinki.

We would be very grateful if you could help spread the news of what, together, we have achieved with this step. Please communicate this release widely, to bring it to the attention of policymakers, politicians and the digital community. And we would appreciate seeing this success highlighted on your own websites.

Best regards,

The Europeana Team _______________________________________________ Chapters mailing list Chapters@wikimedia.ch https://intern.wikimedia.ch/lists/listinfo/chapters