Unesco (mow)
Transcript of 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