Memory of the World

Memory of the World
Name	Memory of the World
Established	1992
Founder	UNESCO
Type	International documentary heritage program
Headquarters	Paris

Memory of the World is an international documentary heritage programme administered by UNESCO that identifies, preserves and provides access to significant archival and documentary collections. The programme interacts with actors such as the International Council on Archives, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, International Council of Museums, International Federation of Film Archives, and national institutions including the British Library, Library of Congress, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Russian State Library and National Archives and Records Administration. It engages with documentary items ranging from the Magna Carta, Dead Sea Scrolls, and Rosetta Stone to modern collections held by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Amnesty International, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Overview

The programme aims to safeguard documentary heritage created by individuals, communities and institutions such as the Vatican Library, National Diet Library, State Hermitage Museum, Smithsonian Institution, National Library of China and Egyptian Museum. It emphasizes preservation and access for items like manuscripts associated with William Shakespeare, maps linked to the Age of Discovery and dispatches from events including the French Revolution, American Civil War, and Russian Revolution. Partner organizations include the World Intellectual Property Organization, UNESCO World Heritage Centre, International Council on Archives and regional bodies such as the European Union and African Union.

History and Establishment

The initiative was launched within UNESCO in 1992 following consultations with institutions like the British Museum, Biblioteca Nacional de España, National Library of Austria, Austrian National Library, German National Library and scholars connected to projects on the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, and the United States Declaration of Independence. Early advocates included figures from the International Council on Archives, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions and national archivists from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan and United States. The programme’s governance structure evolved through sessions of the UNESCO General Conference and adoption of procedural guidelines by the Memory of the World Advisory Committee.

Objectives and Criteria

The programme’s principal objectives mirror priorities held by institutions like the British Library, State Library of New South Wales, National Archives of Australia, Library and Archives Canada and National Archives (UK). Criteria for significance reference documentary values demonstrated by items such as the Gutenberg Bible, Codex Sinaiticus, Diary of Anne Frank and papers of statesmen like Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi. Assessment considers authenticity, uniqueness and world significance; comparable institutions consulted include the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, International Council on Archives, International Council of Museums and the World Digital Library.

UNESCO Memory of the World Register

The Register lists documentary heritage from holders such as the Vatican Secret Archives, Imperial Archives of Japan, National Library of Russia, National Central Library (Taiwan), National Library of Australia and the National Archives of India. Entries range from ancient materials like the Epic of Gilgamesh tablets to modern collections including the papers of Nelson Mandela, the archives of Amnesty International and the records of League of Nations. The Register is overseen by UNESCO and evaluated with input from the International Council on Archives, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions and regional documentary heritage bodies across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.

Nomination and Evaluation Process

Nominations originate from national entities such as the National Archives (UK), Library of Congress, Biblioteca Nacional de España, National Library of China and the National Archives of Japan and are assessed by panels including experts from the International Council on Archives, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, International Council of Museums and the World Intellectual Property Organization. Evaluation considers parallels with collections held by the British Library, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Vatican Library and specialist repositories like the Wellcome Library and the German National Library. Successful inscriptions are endorsed at sessions of the UNESCO General Conference.

Preservation and Access Initiatives

Preservation programs draw on techniques and standards promoted by the International Council on Archives, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, International Council of Museums and laboratories such as those at the British Library and Library of Congress. Digitization partnerships involve organizations like the World Digital Library, Google Books collaborations with the New York Public Library and constituency projects with the European Commission and African Union cultural initiatives. Training and capacity-building activities have been supported by the Getty Conservation Institute, International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, Smithsonian Institution and regional archives in Kenya, India, Brazil and South Africa.

Notable Inscribed Documentary Heritage

Inscribed items and collections include ancient texts and artifacts held by the British Museum, Egyptian Museum, Vatican Library and Israel Museum; medieval codices such as the Codex Leicester and Codex Sinaiticus; revolutionary archives like those related to the French Revolution and the Russian Revolution; personal papers of Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill and Simón Bolívar; and modern institutional records from the League of Nations, International Committee of the Red Cross and Amnesty International. Regional highlights include collections from the National Archives of Brazil, Archivo General de Indias, Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal, National Archives of Australia, National Diet Library and the National Archives of India.

Impact, Criticism, and Challenges

The programme has influenced archival practice at organizations such as the Library of Congress, British Library, Bibliothèque nationale de France and national archives of Canada and Australia, and has stimulated digitization by the World Digital Library and partnerships involving the European Commission and Getty Foundation. Criticisms have come from scholars and institutions debating representation issues involving regions such as Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia and debates with stakeholders including the International Council on Archives and national governments over priorities, funding and access. Ongoing challenges involve conservation funding models, technological obsolescence addressed with partners like the Internet Archive, legal and copyright issues involving the World Intellectual Property Organization, and balancing national sovereignty with international access advocated by the United Nations and UNESCO.

Category:UNESCO programs