Memory of the World – Registers and nominations

• Since 1992…a UNESCO program to safeguard the world’s documentary heritage … complementing World Heritage Convention, Intangible Heritage and other avenues

Objectives

• To facilitate preservation, by the most appropriate techniques

• To assist universal access

• To increase awareness worldwide of the existence and significance of documentary heritage

….in other words to change how the documentary heritage, in libraries, archives, museums or other collections, is valued, protected, used and supported by nations, governments, communities

What is documentary heritage?

UNESCO Memory of the World definition of documents is broad. It includes:

• Textual items (MSS, books, newspapers etc)• Non-textual items (drawings, prints, maps, musical

scores etc)• Virtual items residing on websites and servers• Audiovisual items - analog and digital (films, discs,

tapes, photographs, microfilm, CD, DVD computer games)

How does it pursue its objectives?

• Training, information, practical guidance• Provide or broker project funding• Encourage recognition, protection and public

awareness of key documents through a register system: a “shop window”

• Advocacy, awareness raising and promotion• Access through digitisation and products• Structure for professional collaboration

The register system

• Registers are not an end in themselves, but a means of recognition, raising awareness, achieving preservation and access objectives

• National, regional (MOWCAP) and international registers

• They are NOT a hierarchy

• Criteria identical: the difference is geographic influence

What do you nominate?

• Does your heritage meet the criteria? • Selection criteria relating to authenticity,

uniqueness, geographic effect, influence on the course of history

• …and time, place, people, subject and theme, form and style, social/spiritual/community significance

• Further information on rarity, integrity, threat and management plan

How to nominate?

• Which register?• Download the relevant form• Fill in the information: ownership, location, description

of document or collection etc• Work on it – construct your argument well: you are

making a case, and you have to convince at least two committees

• References and referees• Involve your national MOW committee if appropriate• Ask for help if you need it• 2 year cycle – submit before closing date

Rules and process

• Anyone can nominate anything (within reason! )• Non-competitive: criteria-based• Check the process: International, MOWCAP,

national all differ slightly• More information might be sought• Check MOWCAP website

www.unesco.mowcap.org and/or General Guidelines at www.unesco.org/webworld/mdm

Benefits

• UNESCO recognition is meaningful and prestigious– a global body has made a judgment

• Leverage support for preservation and access• Corrects historical balance and perspective• Right to use the logo (rules apply)• Publicity (book, website, general publicity)• Benefit by association• Strategic value

Tuol Sleng Museum ArchiveCambodia

Cinesound Movietone Collection: Australia

Diocesan archives: Macau

Certificate presentation: Macau

Thank you!

Ray EdmondsonChair, MOWCAP

www.unesco.mowcap.orgwww.unesco.org/webworld/mdm