Google Launches Dead Sea Scrolls Library

Israeli authorities say they have put 5,000 fragments of the ancient Dead Sea scrolls online in a partnership with Google.

The digital library launched on Tuesday, with important texts like the Book of Deuteronomy, which includes the Ten Commandments, and a portion of the first chapter of the Book of Genesis, dated to the first century B.C.

It is part of a broader attempt by the custodians of the celebrated manuscripts — who were once criticized for allowing them to be monopolized by small circles of scholars — to make them broadly available.

Shuka Dorman, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority says: "Now, everyone can touch the stroll on-screen around the globe," says

Last year, Google also partnered with the Israel Museum to put five scrolls online.