unesco (mow)

UNESCO Memory of the World

(MOW)

“Silver Bible”, 6th century, Northern Italy Source: www.unesco.org

Prague collection -- philosophical studies -- 17th century – Czechia Source: www.unesco.org

National Archives -- South Africa Arrest warrant for Nelson Mandela

Source: www.unesco.org

Danish National Archives Act of Sovereignty 1665

Source: www.unesco.org

Portrait -- Johannes Brahms by K. Rona, 1896

Source: www.unesco.orgManuscript - op. 102

Human Rights Documentary Heritage 1980 -- Democratic Uprising against Military Regime – Gwangju, Republic of Korea

Source: www.unesco.org

Launch of the MOW Programme in 1992

MOW Vision

• Heritage belongs to all

• Preserved and protected for all

• Permanently accessible to all

Programme Objectives

• Facilitate preservation

• Assist universal access to documentary heritage

• Increase awareness worldwide

Canada - Hudson’s Bay Company Archival records, Cartographic Records

Source: www.unesco.org

Programme Structure

• International Advisory Committee (IAC)o Secretariat

• Regional MOW Committees

• National MOW Committees

International Advisory Committee (IAC)

• Appointed by D-G UNESCO

• Key body responsible for Programme implementation

• Determines fund allocation

• Secretariat

Regional Committees• Subsidiary of IAC

• Unite people from different countries to achieve Programme objectives

• Maintain Regional Register

• Encourage cooperation / training

• Fostering of national committees

National Committees

• Autonomous entities

• Maintain National Register

• 59 countries with National MOW Committees

MOW Register

• Most publicly visible aspects of the Programme

• Nominating for the MOW Register

Importance – Technical• Helps development of stable technologies to preserve

vulnerability

• Improves accessibility and use of documentary heritage

• Pilot projects -- contemporary technology to reproduce original documentary heritage on other media

• Technical committee serves as starting-point for advice / networking

Importance – Social• Solicits accountability from governments

• Encourages cooperation and training

• Global outlook – group effort

• Mechanism for advocacy / campaigning

• Provides education / promotion via products

Importance – Cultural

• Universal access

• Supports the meaning of “world significance”

• Encourages cross-country linkages of collections and undertakes special projects

• Balances traditional knowledge with modern methods

Importance – Economic• Digital information has economic value as a

source of knowledge

• Promotes resource-sharing and optimal use of resources

• Collective fundraising

• Produces products that further its objectives -- books, pamphlets, CDs for profit

Our Opinion – Pros MOW• Provides permanent knowledge

• Fosters partnerships -- special projects

• Facilitates meeting of experts, sharing expertise, networking

• Provides formal selection process for Register

• Preservation of world heritage strengthens the information profession

Our Opinion – Cons MOW

• Programme under large UNESCO umbrella -- administrative “red tape”

• Could get political

• Ensure less wealthy nations have access to Programme

• Training in all languages not always available

Conclusion • Creates foundational piece for future generations

• Captures many formats of human heritage

• MOW – mechanism to record methodologies, expertise, training, etc. For preservation action

• Encourages political will for global development of documentary heritage

Final Thought...

“MOW PROGRAMME IS NEEDED TO

PREVENT COLLECTIVE AMNESIA ABOUT

OUR HUMAN EXPERIENCE”

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AVoZq8dHJA