"These visual materials, many of which are unique to the Library," said Library President Dr. Paul LeClerc, "will be available to anyone in the world with an Internet connection at any time, free of charge.
"Whether it's a historian studying the Revolutionary War, a scenic designer researching old New York neighborhoods, or a fashion designer looking for inspiration in vintage clothing, the Digital Gallery will provide unparalleled resources and access," said David S. Ferriero, the Library's Andrew W. Mellon director and chief executive of The Research Libraries. "Within the next several months, we expect that the quantity of materials available will double to 500,000 items."