The Library of Congress has deemed its Photos on Flickr pilot project a huge success.
At present, the Library of Congress Flickr Pilot offers three historical photo collections, all with no known copyright restrictions: World War I Panoramas (15 photos), 1930s-40s in Color (1,615 photos) and News in the 1910s (3,350 photos).
In response to the projects almost immediate success, Flickr launched The Commons, an initiative to “increase access to publicly-held photography collections, and provide a way for the general public to contribute information and knowledge.” In addition to the Library of Congress, The Commons has attracted a growing number of participating institutions worldwide, including the Smithsonian Institution, the Bibliothèque de Toulouse and the George Eastman House.
The LC Flickr Pilot project team has recommended continued and expanded participation in The Commons.