February 17th 2009, The Hague (The Netherlands) – The European Library today announced a new site release of www.TheEuropeanLibrary.org, a free resource to discover the extensive learning and research materials, covering all subjects, from 38 national libraries across Europe.  Originally developed as a central point of access to Europe’s library material, the website now combines multilingual search functionalities with several online exhibitions and web2.0 tools.

The new portal incorporates many of the recommended enhancements from user feedback studies.  Top of the list was more multilingual facilities.  As a result, users can now navigate and scan over 330 collections in their native language.  Support materials, including FAQs and a first-time user guide, are available in 22 European languages.

Users also enjoy the portal’s rich media offerings.  The portal specialises in online exhibitions that showcase the collections of Europe’s national libraries.  A new, exciting exhibition on the Napoleonic Wars has been launched to coincide with the two-hundredth anniversary of the campaigns.  More than 200 rarities were collected from the national libraries of Spain, Portugal, France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands and Serbia.  The exhibition shows unique material such as French constitutional chart (1814), sketches of Francisco de Goya (1810) and military maps showing how Napoleon planned his attacks.