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 Archive
Cambodia
Cinesound Movietone Collection:
Australia
Diocesan archives: Macau
Certificate presentation: Macau
Thank you!
Ray Edmondson
Chair, MOWCAP
www.unesco.mowcap.org
www.unesco.org/webworld/mdm