A prototype portal site of a worldwide digital library, first announced two years ago by UNESCO, will be launched in April next year, announced Vladimir Zaicev, general director of the National Library of Russia (NLR).

The digital library is expected to have content focusing on the history and culture of different nations, as well as books, maps, musical notes, holiday cards and photographs, Lenta.ru reported. The U.S. Library of Congress devised the concept around three years ago.

The experimental version will have library content in seven languages from a number of countries, including Russia. Russian-language material would mainly focus on Siberia and Far Eastern countries, Lenta.ru reported.

The NLR announced in 2007 it would participate in the development of the library, according to Lenta.Ru. Other participants include IFLA (The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) and search giant Google.