Memory of the World

Memory of the World is a program initiated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to preserve and promote the world's documentary heritage, including manuscripts, books, and other materials of great historical and cultural significance, such as the Magna Carta, the Declaration of Independence, and the Treaty of Versailles. This program aims to recognize and safeguard the world's most valuable archival holdings, including those from the British Library, the Library of Congress, and the National Archives and Records Administration. The program also seeks to raise awareness about the importance of preserving cultural heritage, as emphasized by Kofi Annan, Jacques Chirac, and Vladimir Putin. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict also play a crucial role in the program's objectives.

Introduction

The Memory of the World program was established in 1992, with the goal of preserving and providing access to the world's most significant documentary heritage, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Gutenberg Bible, and the Maya codices. This program is part of UNESCO's efforts to promote cultural diversity, as outlined in the UNESCO Constitution and the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. The program works closely with institutions such as the International Council on Archives, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, and the World Intellectual Property Organization to achieve its objectives. The program also collaborates with Nobel Prize winners, such as Toni Morrison and Gabriel García Márquez, to promote the importance of preserving cultural heritage.

History

The Memory of the World program has its roots in the International Council on Archives' 1980 recommendation to create a global registry of significant archival holdings, including those from the National Archives of Australia, the National Archives of Canada, and the Archives Nationales de France. This idea was further developed in the 1990s, with the support of UNESCO Director-General Federico Mayor Zaragoza and the UNESCO General Conference. The program was officially launched in 1992, with the first meeting of the International Advisory Committee held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The program has since been supported by heads of state and heads of government from around the world, including Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, and Gerhard Schröder.

Programme

The Memory of the World program is implemented through a range of activities, including the creation of a global register of significant documentary heritage, such as the Bayeux Tapestry, the Lindisfarne Gospels, and the Codex Sinaiticus. The program also provides technical assistance and training to institutions responsible for preserving and providing access to these materials, including the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Russian State Library, and the National Library of China. The program works closely with other UNESCO programs, such as the World Heritage Centre and the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, to promote the preservation of cultural heritage. The program also collaborates with international organizations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations Development Programme.

Register

The Memory of the World register is a global inventory of significant documentary heritage, including manuscripts, books, and other materials of great historical and cultural significance, such as the Domesday Book, the Doomsday Book, and the Book of Kells. The register is maintained by the International Advisory Committee, which is composed of experts from around the world, including Harvard University, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge. The register includes materials from institutions such as the Vatican Library, the Bodleian Library, and the New York Public Library. The register is updated regularly, with new inscriptions added every two years, following a rigorous evaluation process involving experts from institutions such as the Getty Conservation Institute and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property.

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria for the Memory of the World register are based on the significance of the documentary heritage, including its historical, cultural, and social importance, as well as its rarity and condition, as evaluated by experts from institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, the British Museum, and the Louvre. The criteria also take into account the authenticity and integrity of the materials, as well as their potential for education and research, as emphasized by UNESCO Institute for Education and the International Council of Museums. The selection process involves a rigorous evaluation of nominations submitted by institutions from around the world, including the National Library of Australia, the National Library of New Zealand, and the National Library of South Africa.

Preservation Efforts

The Memory of the World program is involved in a range of preservation efforts, including the conservation of materials, the creation of digital copies, and the development of disaster preparedness and response plans, as outlined in the UNESCO Recommendation on the Conservation of Historic and Cultural Property. The program works closely with institutions such as the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property and the Getty Conservation Institute to provide technical assistance and training to institutions responsible for preserving and providing access to significant documentary heritage. The program also collaborates with international organizations, such as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, to promote the preservation of cultural heritage in the face of natural disasters and other threats, as emphasized by Koichiro Matsuura and Irina Bokova. The program's preservation efforts are supported by donors and partners, including the Ford Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Category:UNESCO