Indonesia Prepares Documentary Heritage for MoW & MoWCAP Nominations

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesian National Library prepares several of the nation's important documentary heritages to be nominated for the international Memory of the World (MoW) and the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MoWCAP). This strategic step is part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the preservation of Indonesia's collective memory under the framework of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) programs.

Deputy for Library Materials Development and Information Services of Indonesian National Library, Suharyanto, delivered the statement during the Plenary Session of the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO (KNIU) 2026 at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in Jakarta on Monday, September 28, 2026. He stated, "This aligns with Indonesian National Library’s duties in the fields of culture, science, education, as well as communication and information."

He also detailed that these international submission preparations run concurrently with the designation of 11 documentary heritages as the National Collective Memory (IKON) in 2026. Through the IKON, MoW, and MoWCAP programs, Indonesian National Library consistently carries out the preservation, digitization, transliteration, translation, and media transfer of ancient manuscripts.

The prominent documentary heritages currently being prepared to enter the international arena include the manuscripts of Bo' Sangaji Kai, Kidung Bhuwana Wināśa, Kakawin Sutasoma, and the works of the prominent scholar Syekh Yusuf al-Makassari. Beyond focusing on ancient manuscripts, Indonesian National Library's role within the UNESCO ecosystem also encompasses expanding access to scientific knowledge and culture.

One of these initiatives is demonstrated through full support for proposing dangdut music as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. The Deputy explained that the Indonesian National Library has prepared more than 1,700 documentation items—ranging from recordings and newspapers to journals—with the preparation target slated for completion in March 2027.

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) also emerged as a strategic issue on the UNESCO agenda. In this context, the Indonesian National Library can contribute through the development of library services, the strengthening of AI and information literacy, information curation and verification, and the utilization of technology to ethically expand access to knowledge sources.

The 2026 KNIU Plenary Session discussed various strategic issues, ranging from the governance of UNESCO programs and KNIU's 2027 policy direction to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The presence of Indonesian National Library in this session reaffirms its strong commitment to continuously synergize in preserving, developing, and disseminating Indonesia's intellectual heritage and wealth on the global stage.