Documentary heritage reflects the diversity of languages, peoples and cultures. It is the mirror of the world and its memory. But this memory is fragile. Every day, irreplaceable parts of this memory disappear for ever. UNESCO has launched the Memory of the World Programme to guard against collective amnesia calling upon the preservation of the valuable archive holdings and library collections all over the world ensuring their wide dissemination.
to raise Member States’ awareness of their own documentary heritage, especially the part which holds significance in terms of a common world memory;
to arouse the interest of nations, institutions and peoples in safeguarding their documentary heritage;
to encourage the preservation of documentary heritage which has world, national and regional significance;
to make this heritage available to the largest possible audience by using the most appropriate technology;
to develop products such as CD-ROMs, web sites, albums, books, or postcards promoting the concept of documentary heritage, and make them available for wide distribution.
Seventh Meeting of the International Advisory Committee (IAC), Lijiang, China, 13-17 June 2005
The International Advisory Committee (IAC) is appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO to guide the planning and implementation of the "Memory of the World" Programme as a whole.
The Memory of the World Register lists documentary heritage which has been identified by the International Advisory Committee in its meetings in Tashkent (September 1997), in Vienna (June 1999), in Cheongju City (June 2001) and in Gdansk (August 2003) and endorsed by the Director-General of UNESCO as corresponding the selection criteria for world significance. Actually 91 collections from 45 countries are placed on the Register.
Directory of digitized documents
held by libraries worldwide was compiled in close cooperation with the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). This database has been made available online.
Safeguarding our documentary heritage
A CD-ROM, prepared for UNESCO by IFLA, offers a guide to the standards, recommended practices and reference literature related to the preservation of documents of all kinds
In April 2004 UNESCO’s Executive Board approved the establishment of a Memory of the World Prize to further promote the objectives of the Memory of the World Programme and to commemorate the inscription of the Jikji, the oldest known book of movable metal print in the world.
The Prize consisting of an award of US$ 30,000 will be given every two years to individuals or institutions that have made significant contributions to the preservation and accessibility of documentary heritage. The award itself and the operating costs of the Prize as well as all costs related to the award ceremony will be funded by the Republic of Korea.
The Memory of the World has at present national committees in 64 Member States and regional committees in Asia/Pacific and in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Memory of the World Register lists documentary heritage that has been identified by the International Advisory Committee as corresponding to the selection criteria for world significance and endorsed by the Director-General.
Today 91 collections from 45 Member States including the book "Buljo jikji simche yojeol", also called Jikji, are inscribed on the Register.
The Jikji contains the essentials of Zen Buddhism compiled by priest Baegun in late Goryeo period. The book was printed in two volumes. The first volume has not been found yet and the second volume is being kept in the Bibliothèque nationale of France.
Pre-selected Nominations for the Prize
to be assessed during the 7th Meeting of the International Advisory Committee of the Memory of the World Programme, to be held in Lijiang, PR of China, from 13-17 June 2005:
The International Advisory Committee (IAC) is appointed by the Director-General of UNESCO to guide the planning and implementation of the "Memory of the World" Programme as a whole.