The National Library of Indonesia to receive 2024 UNESCO-Jikji Memory of the World Prize

In its recommendation, the international jury of experts recognized the Library's dedication to the preservation and accessibility of Indonesian manuscripts through extensive programmes including national manuscript festivals, extensive publications, and educational initiatives for children and young people.

The Library will be presented with the Prize in a ceremony in Cheongju, Republic of Korea, on 4 September, on Jikji Day.

The National Library of Indonesia

The National Library of Indonesia, established in 1980, has preserved significant Indonesian collections of manuscripts that reflect the antiquity and diversity of manuscript traditions in Indonesia. With the enactment of the Indonesian Library Act of 2007, the Library has implemented manuscript management programmes throughout the country, including advocacy, inventory and acquisition, preservation, accessibility, research and publication, capacity building and restitution.

Acting Director E. Aminudin Aziz highlighted, "Creating a robust ecosystem for sustainable manuscript preservation and accessibility programmes is critical. This ecosystem, which includes advocating for manuscript owners, enhancing the preservation and increasing accessibility through various methods, is challenging to establish. However, it is a highly rewarding endeavor to enable more people to benefit from and enjoy the documentary heritage."

The UNESCO / Jikji Memory of the World Prize

The UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize commemorates the inscription on UNESCO Memory of the World International Register of Buljo jikji simche yojeol, a Korean work considered to be the oldest book printed with movable metal type. Endowed with $30,000, funded by the Republic of Korea through the City of Cheongju, the Prize recognizes efforts to contribute to the preservation of and accessibility to documentary heritage as the common heritage of humanity.

UNESCO established its Memory of the World Programme in 1995 to help preserve the world's documentary heritage - a rich repository of our collective memory. Documents, whether written, audio or visual are fragile and require carefully coordinated global collaboration to ensure their survival and continued access for future generations.

In close partnership with governments and private bodies, UNESCO works to protect and store the original, unaltered documents, and make them accessible to everyone. The programme comprises a worldwide network of national committees and local archiving institutions. It focuses particularly on areas impacted by conflict or natural disasters.

About UNESCO

With 194 Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization contributes to peace and security by leading multilateral cooperation on education, science, culture, communication and information. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO has offices in 54 countries and employs over 2300 people. UNESCO oversees more than 2000 World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks; networks of Creative, Learning, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities; and over 13 000 associated schools, university chairs, training and research institutions. Its Director-General is Audrey Azoulay.

"Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed" - UNESCO Constitution, 1945.

More information: www.unesco.org