The first inscriptions on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register were made in 1997.
[1][2] By creating a compendium of the world’s documentary heritage, including manuscripts, oral traditions, audio-visual materials, library and archive holdings,[3] the program aims to promote the exchange of information among experts and raise resources for the preservation, digitization, and dissemination of documentary materials.
[4] As of December 2018, 429 main documentary heritages had been inscribed in the Register, with 116 of these from Asia and the Pacific.
[7] 35°17′48″S 149°07′47″E / 35.296633°S 149.129815°E / -35.296633; 149.129815 (National Library of Australia) 35°17′48″S 149°07′47″E / 35.296633°S 149.129815°E / -35.296633; 149.129815 (National Library of Australia) 35°17′00″S 149°07′17″E / 35.283213°S 149.121350°E / -35.283213; 149.121350 (National Film and Sound Archive) 27°28′16″S 153°01′05″E / 27.471136°S 153.018135°E / -27.471136; 153.018135 (State Library of Queensland) 33°51′58″S 151°12′48″E / 33.866163°S 151.213272°E / -33.866163; 151.213272 (State Library of New South Wales, Sydney) 23°46′33″N 90°22′03″E / 23.7757275°N 90.3675297°E / 23.7757275; 90.3675297 (Liberation War Museum, Dhaka) 11°32′58″N 104°54′55″E / 11.5494006°N 104.9153715°E / 11.5494006; 104.9153715 (Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Phnom Penh) 39°57′02″N 116°26′51″E / 39.950573°N 116.447466°E / 39.950573; 116.447466 (Music Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Arts) 39°54′59″N 116°23′50″E / 39.916261°N 116.397116°E / 39.916261; 116.397116 (Palace Museum, Beijing) 26°52′53″N 100°12′35″E / 26.881450°N 100.209704°E / 26.881450; 100.209704 (Lijiang Prefecture Dongba Research Institute, Dayan) 39°54′54″N 116°23′35″E / 39.914878°N 116.392925°E / 39.914878; 116.392925 (The First Historical Archives) 39°54′39″N 116°25′03″E / 39.910808°N 116.417448°E / 39.910808; 116.417448 (Library of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences) 39°56′35″N 116°19′23″E / 39.943016°N 116.323087°E / 39.943016; 116.323087 (National Library of China) 29°39′23″N 91°04′57″E / 29.656268°N 91.0824097°E / 29.656268; 91.0824097 (Tibet Autonomous Region Archives) 23°07′47″N 113°16′18″E / 23.129666°N 113.271797°E / 23.129666; 113.271797 (Guangdong Provincial Archives) 23°22′24″N 116°42′48″E / 23.373298°N 116.713240°E / 23.373298; 116.713240 (Chaoshan Research Institute for History and Culture) 23°22′06″N 116°42′39″E / 23.368334°N 116.710955°E / 23.368334; 116.710955 (Shantou Municipal Archives) 22°36′48″N 113°05′04″E / 22.613291°N 113.084509°E / 22.613291; 113.084509 (Jiangmen Wuyi Overseas Chinese Museum) 24°18′36″N 116°07′00″E / 24.310126°N 116.116659°E / 24.310126; 116.116659 (Meizhou City Qiaopi Archives) 22°22′35″N 112°41′55″E / 22.376367°N 112.698511°E / 22.376367; 112.698511 (Kaiping Cultural Heritage Bureau) 26°02′41″N 119°12′14″E / 26.044769°N 119.203995°E / 26.044769; 119.203995 (Fujian Province Archives) 24°54′27″N 118°35′13″E / 24.907562°N 118.586831°E / 24.907562; 118.586831 (Quanzhou City Archives) 24°47′02″N 118°33′04″E / 24.783770°N 118.551020°E / 24.783770; 118.551020 (Jinjiang City Archives) 24°47′42″N 118°33′45″E / 24.795137°N 118.562476°E / 24.795137; 118.562476 (Jinjiang Municipal Museum) 24°54′44″N 118°36′24″E / 24.912132°N 118.606545°E / 24.912132; 118.606545 (Quanzhou Museum of Overseas Chinese History) 40°02′34″N 116°09′55″E / 40.042732°N 116.165371°E / 40.042732; 116.165371 (Central Archives of China) 32°02′26″N 118°48′51″E / 32.040665°N 118.814042°E / 32.040665; 118.814042 (The Second Historical Archives of China) 41°46′53″N 123°24′18″E / 41.781494°N 123.405006°E / 41.781494; 123.405006 (Liaoning Provincial Archives) 43°53′24″N 125°19′33″E / 43.889982°N 125.325797°E / 43.889982; 125.325797 (Jilin Provincial Archives) 31°12′18″N 121°23′55″E / 31.204879°N 121.398591°E / 31.204879; 121.398591 (Shanghai Municipal Archives) 32°03′30″N 118°47′48″E / 32.058256°N 118.796558°E / 32.058256; 118.796558 (Nanjing City Archives) 32°02′09″N 118°44′33″E / 32.035703°N 118.742556°E / 32.035703; 118.742556 (The Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders) 31°19′35″N 120°37′35″E / 31.326280°N 120.626409°E / 31.326280; 120.626409 (Suzhou Industrial and Commercial Archives Administration) 39°55′21″N 116°24′38″E / 39.922623°N 116.410448°E / 39.922623; 116.410448 (Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) 39°55′21″N 116°24′36″E / 39.922443°N 116.410084°E / 39.922443; 116.410084 (Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) 39°56′35″N 116°19′23″E / 39.943016°N 116.323087°E / 39.943016; 116.323087 (National Library of China) 39°54′59″N 116°23′50″E / 39.916261°N 116.397116°E / 39.916261; 116.397116 (Palace Museum, Beijing) 39°59′31″N 116°18′35″E / 39.991829°N 116.309770°E / 39.991829; 116.309770 (Peking University Library) 40°00′18″N 116°19′29″E / 40.004884°N 116.324684°E / 40.004884; 116.324684 (Tsinghua University Library) 31°13′42″N 121°28′32″E / 31.228287°N 121.475530°E / 31.228287; 121.475530 (Shanghai Museum) 32°02′30″N 118°49′32″E / 32.041742°N 118.825683°E / 32.041742; 118.825683 (Nanjing Museum) 36°39′31″N 117°05′45″E / 36.658531°N 117.095899°E / 36.658531; 117.095899 (Shandong Provincial Museum) 38°48′29″N 121°14′02″E / 38.808160°N 121.233847°E / 38.808160; 121.233847 (Lvshun Museum) 39°05′08″N 117°12′32″E / 39.085523°N 117.208901°E / 39.085523; 117.208901 (Tianjin Museum) 38°45′17″N 9°09′23″W / 38.754660°N 9.156511°W / 38.754660; -9.156511 (Torre do Tombo National Archive) 22°11′30″N 113°32′10″E / 22.191753°N 113.536012°E / 22.191753; 113.536012 (Association of Piety and Longevity Kong Tac Lam) 29°39′48″N 91°07′27″E / 29.663227°N 91.124187°E / 29.663227; 91.124187 (Traditional Tibetan Hospital) 12°51′48″N 80°13′47″E / 12.863331°N 80.2295941°E / 12.863331; 80.2295941 (Institute of Asian Studies, Tamil Nadu) 33°55′53″S 18°25′26″E / 33.931495°S 18.423812°E / -33.931495; 18.423812 (Cape Town Archives Repository) 13°04′35″N 80°15′38″E / 13.076368°N 80.260424°E / 13.076368; 80.260424 (Tamil Nadu Archives) 6°54′24″N 79°51′53″E / 6.906759°N 79.864734°E / 6.906759; 79.864734 (Department of National Archives of Sri Lanka) 6°16′43″S 106°49′08″E / 6.278623°S 106.818899°E / -6.278623; 106.818899 (Arsip Nasional Republik Indonesia) 52°04′52″N 4°19′35″E / 52.081037°N 4.3262802°E / 52.081037; 4.3262802 (Nationaal Archief) 11°56′13″N 79°50′08″E / 11.936934°N 79.835651°E / 11.936934; 79.835651 (French Institute of Pondicherry) 18°31′09″N 73°49′48″E / 18.519103°N 73.829942°E / 18.519103; 73.829942 (Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute) 22°33′19″N 88°21′02″E / 22.555149°N 88.350532°E / 22.555149; 88.350532 (Asiatic Society, Kolkata) 23°01′59″N 72°32′59″E / 23.033096°N 72.549811°E / 23.033096; 72.549811 (Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum) 28°36′56″N 77°13′02″E / 28.615543°N 77.217240°E / 28.615543; 77.217240 (National Archives of India, New Delhi) 22°33′19″N 88°21′02″E / 22.555149°N 88.350532°E / 22.555149; 88.350532 (Maitreyayvarakarana Asiatic Society, Kolkata) 5°08′02″S 119°24′19″E / 5.133867°S 119.405291°E / -5.133867; 119.405291 (Fort Rotterdam, Makassar) 52°09′26″N 4°28′53″E / 52.157302°N 4.481429°E / 52.157302; 4.481429 (Leiden University Library) 6°10′53″S 106°49′37″E / 6.181298°S 106.826908°E / -6.181298; 106.826908 (National Library of Indonesia) 6°10′53″S 106°49′37″E / 6.181298°S 106.826908°E / -6.181298; 106.826908 (National Library of Indonesia) 52°09′31″N 4°28′57″E / 52.158590°N 4.482510°E / 52.158590; 4.482510 (Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies) 6°16′43″S 106°49′08″E / 6.278638°S 106.818939°E / -6.278638; 106.818939 (National Archives of Indonesia) 6°16′43″S 106°49′08″E / 6.278638°S 106.818939°E / -6.278638; 106.818939 (National Archives of Indonesia) 6°16′43″S 106°49′08″E / 6.278638°S 106.818939°E / -6.278638; 106.818939 (National Archives of Indonesia) 6°54′24″N 79°51′53″E / 6.906742°N 79.864784°E / 6.906742; 79.864784 (Department of National Archives of Sri Lanka) 52°09′26″N 4°28′53″E / 52.157302°N 4.481429°E / 52.157302; 4.481429 (Leiden University Library, Leiden) 6°10′53″S 106°49′37″E / 6.181298°S 106.826908°E / -6.181298; 106.826908 (National Library of Indonesia) 3°10′14″N 101°42′41″E / 3.170693°N 101.711362°E / 3.170693; 101.711362 (National Library of Malaysia) 11°34′35″N 104°55′10″E / 11.576504°N 104.919578°E / 11.576504; 104.919578 (National Library of Cambodia) 35°40′47″N 51°25′14″E / 35.679750°N 51.420517°E / 35.679750; 51.420517 (Golestan Palace) 38°03′51″N 46°15′23″E / 38.064110°N 46.256279°E / 38.064110; 46.256279 (Tabriz Central Library) 36°17′22″N 59°36′58″E / 36.289501°N 59.616135°E / 36.289501; 59.616135 (Astan-e Quds Razavi Library, Mashad) 35°48′30″N 51°27′31″E / 35.808438°N 51.458630°E / 35.808438; 51.458630 (Library, Museum and Documentation Centre of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Tehran) 35°41′22″N 51°25′52″E / 35.6893678°N 51.431208°E / 35.6893678; 51.431208 (Sepahsalar Library (Shahid Mottahri)) 35°41′13″N 51°24′59″E / 35.687040°N 51.416318°E / 35.687040; 51.416318 (Malek National Library and Museum) 35°40′47″N 51°25′14″E / 35.679750°N 51.420517°E / 35.679750; 51.420517 (Golestan Palace, Tehran) 35°41′14″N 51°24′53″E / 35.687098°N 51.414643°E / 35.687098; 51.414643 (National Museum of Iran) 35°42′12″N 51°23′43″E / 35.703269°N 51.395321°E / 35.703269; 51.395321 (Central Library and document centre of the University of Tehran) 35°48′30″N 51°27′31″E / 35.808438°N 51.458630°E / 35.808438; 51.458630 (Library of Political and International Studies of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 35°41′22″N 51°26′00″E / 35.689360°N 51.433397°E / 35.689360; 51.433397 (Library of the Sepahsalar Mosque) 35°45′07″N 51°26′03″E / 35.751903°N 51.4342645°E / 35.751903; 51.4342645 (The National Library and Archives of Iran) 50°56′43″N 10°42′20″E / 50.945358°N 10.705445°E / 50.945358; 10.705445 (The National Library and Archives of Iran) 35°45′07″N 51°26′03″E / 35.751903°N 51.4342645°E / 35.751903; 51.4342645 (The National Library and Archives of Iran) 50°56′43″N 10°42′20″E / 50.945358°N 10.705445°E / 50.945358; 10.705445 (Golestan Palace, Tehran) 33°38′27″N 130°48′50″E / 33.640761°N 130.813753°E / 33.640761; 130.813753 (Tagawa City Coal Mining Historical Museum) 33°39′01″N 130°48′50″E / 33.650349°N 130.813806°E / 33.650349; 130.813806 (Fukuoka Prefectural University Library) 38°15′22″N 140°51′24″E / 38.256009°N 140.856636°E / 38.256009; 140.856636 (Sendai City Museum) 35°01′55″N 135°42′36″E / 35.031838°N 135.710117°E / 35.031838; 135.710117 (Yōmei Bunko, Kyoto) 35°00′47″N 135°46′56″E / 35.012969°N 135.782093°E / 35.012969; 135.782093 (Kyoto Prefectural Library) 35°30′34″N 135°23′48″E / 35.509538°N 135.396710°E / 35.509538; 135.396710 (Maizuru Repatriation Memorial Museum) 36°19′19″N 139°00′12″E / 36.322080°N 139.003400°E / 36.322080; 139.003400 (Takasaki) 43°14′29″N 76°56′35″E / 43.241432°N 76.943141°E / 43.241432; 76.943141 (National Library of Kazakhstan, Almaty) 43°14′34″N 76°56′44″E / 43.242712°N 76.945582°E / 43.242712; 76.945582 (State Archive & State Archive of Film, Almaty) 43°14′34″N 76°56′44″E / 43.242712°N 76.945582°E / 43.242712; 76.945582 (State Archive & State Archive of Film, Almaty) 6°09′48″N 100°22′12″E / 6.163409°N 100.370127°E / 6.163409; 100.370127 (National Archives of Malaysia) 3°10′14″N 101°42′41″E / 3.170693°N 101.711362°E / 3.170693; 101.711362 (National Library of Malaysia) 3°08′03″N 101°42′13″E / 3.134248°N 101.703558°E / 3.134248; 101.703558 (Institute of Language and Literature, Kuala Lumpur) 5°19′07″N 103°06′08″E / 5.318578°N 103.102112°E / 5.318578; 103.102112 (Terengganu State Museum) 47°54′53″N 106°54′59″E / 47.914814°N 106.916250°E / 47.914814; 106.916250 (National Library of Mongolia) 47°54′53″N 106°54′59″E / 47.914814°N 106.916250°E / 47.914814; 106.916250 (National Library of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar) 47°54′53″N 106°54′59″E / 47.914814°N 106.916250°E / 47.914814; 106.916250 (National Library of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar) 22°00′17″N 96°06′47″E / 22.004738°N 96.112954°E / 22.004738; 96.112954 (Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay) 19°47′20″N 96°08′29″E / 19.788761°N 96.141265°E / 19.788761; 96.141265 (Department of Archaeology and National Museum, Naypyidaw) 19°47′20″N 96°08′29″E / 19.788761°N 96.141265°E / 19.788761; 96.141265 (Department of Archaeology and National Museum, Naypyidaw) 52°21′55″N 9°43′51″E / 52.365295°N 9.730835°E / 52.365295; 9.730835 (Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Library – State Library of Lower Saxony) 21°11′43″N 94°53′38″E / 21.195319°N 94.893868°E / 21.195319; 94.893868 (Shwezigon Pagoda, Bagan) 27°41′43″N 85°19′17″E / 27.695387°N 85.321523°E / 27.695387; 85.321523 (National Archive of Nepal) 27°42′50″N 85°18′55″E / 27.713998°N 85.315269°E / 27.713998; 85.315269 (Kaiser Library, Kathmandu) 41°16′37″S 174°46′48″E / 41.277057°S 174.7801366°E / -41.277057; 174.7801366 (National Archives, Wellington) 41°16′37″S 174°46′48″E / 41.277057°S 174.7801366°E / -41.277057; 174.7801366 (National Archives, Wellington) 36°51′37″S 174°46′40″E / 36.860387°S 174.777826°E / -36.860387; 174.777826 (Auckland War Memorial Museum) 39°01′13″N 125°44′58″E / 39.020196°N 125.749334°E / 39.020196; 125.749334 (Grand People's Study House) 33°44′24″N 73°05′41″E / 33.739981°N 73.094761°E / 33.739981; 73.094761 (National Archives, Islamabad) 14°35′13″N 120°58′52″E / 14.586940°N 120.981240°E / 14.586940; 120.981240 (National Museum of the Philippines) 14°42′01″N 121°04′18″E / 14.700378°N 121.071785°E / 14.700378; 121.071785 (Radio Veritas Asia, Quezon City) 14°33′10″N 121°00′49″E / 14.552678°N 121.013647°E / 14.552678; 121.013647 (Rajah Broadcasting Network, Makati) 14°17′00″N 120°57′41″E / 14.283373°N 120.961358°E / 14.283373; 120.961358 (Personal Archives of Mr. Orly Punzalan, Dasmariñas Village) 14°39′26″N 121°03′56″E / 14.657119°N 121.065581°E / 14.657119; 121.065581 (University of the Philippines, Center for Ethnomusicology) 14°39′26″N 121°03′56″E / 14.657119°N 121.065581°E / 14.657119; 121.065581 (University of the Philippines, Center for Ethnomusicology)
37°35′37″N 126°59′49″E / 37.593612°N 126.996883°E / 37.593612; 126.996883 (National Library of Korea) 37°27′37″N 126°57′13″E / 37.460253°N 126.953587°E / 37.460253; 126.953587 (Chongjoksan Sagobon, Odaesan Sagobon and Sanyoppon) 35°10′42″N 129°05′02″E / 35.178275°N 129.084001°E / 35.178275; 129.084001 (T'aebaeksan Sagobon) 37°34′44″N 126°59′22″E / 37.578998°N 126.989511°E / 37.578998; 126.989511 (Kyujanggak Library and Seoul National University) 48°50′01″N 2°22′33″E / 48.833576°N 2.375789°E / 48.833576; 2.375789 (National Library of France) 35°48′04″N 128°05′53″E / 35.801207°N 128.098137°E / 35.801207; 128.098137 (Haeinsa Monastery, Gyeongsangnam-do) 37°27′33″N 126°57′07″E / 37.459273°N 126.952075°E / 37.459273; 126.952075 (Seoul National University) 37°29′52″N 127°00′13″E / 37.497763°N 127.003675°E / 37.497763; 127.003675 (National Library of Korea) 35°09′36″N 126°51′05″E / 35.160072°N 126.851467°E / 35.160072; 126.851467 (Gwangju City Hall) 35°08′58″N 126°55′00″E / 35.149523°N 126.916777°E / 35.149523; 126.916777 (May 18 Memorial Foundation, Gwangju) 35°10′37″N 126°54′21″E / 35.176963°N 126.905873°E / 35.176963; 126.905873 (Chonnam National University, Gwangju) 37°27′33″N 126°57′07″E / 37.459273°N 126.952075°E / 37.459273; 126.952075 (Seoul National University) 36°48′23″N 127°01′55″E / 36.806508°N 127.031968°E / 36.806508; 127.031968 (Hyeonchungsa Shrine, Asan) 36°21′39″N 127°23′08″E / 36.360827°N 127.385452°E / 36.360827; 127.385452 (National Archives, Seoul) 37°30′09″N 127°04′02″E / 37.502635°N 127.067141°E / 37.502635; 127.067141 (Korea Saemaul Undong Center) 36°42′08″N 128°48′39″E / 36.702255°N 128.810703°E / 36.702255; 128.810703 (The Advanced Center for Korean Studies, Andong) 37°31′33″N 126°54′58″E / 37.525958°N 126.915973°E / 37.525958; 126.915973 (Korean Broadcasting System) 36°21′39″N 127°23′08″E / 36.360831°N 127.385418°E / 36.360831; 127.385418 (National Archives of Korea) 37°34′26″N 126°58′02″E / 37.574003°N 126.967257°E / 37.574003; 126.967257 (Gallup Korea) 37°34′36″N 126°58′30″E / 37.576576°N 126.975098°E / 37.576576; 126.975098 (National Palace Museum of Korea) 35°52′10″N 128°36′22″E / 35.869422°N 128.606033°E / 35.869422; 128.606033 (National Debt Redemption Movement Memorial Park) 37°29′52″N 127°00′13″E / 37.497763°N 127.003675°E / 37.497763; 127.003675 (National Library of Korea) 37°25′27″N 126°58′47″E / 37.424203°N 126.979690°E / 37.424203; 126.979690 (National Institute of Korean History) 37°35′05″N 127°01′35″E / 37.584651°N 127.026487°E / 37.584651; 127.026487 (Korea University Library) 36°29′21″N 127°08′48″E / 36.489140°N 127.146737°E / 36.489140; 127.146737 (Chungnam Institute of History and Culture) 37°31′26″N 126°58′49″E / 37.523847°N 126.980404°E / 37.523847; 126.980404 (National Museum of Korea) 35°07′47″N 129°05′39″E / 35.129724°N 129.094084°E / 35.129724; 129.094084 (Busan Museum) 37°34′36″N 126°58′30″E / 37.576576°N 126.975098°E / 37.576576; 126.975098 (National Palace Museum of Korea) 35°04′43″N 129°04′49″E / 35.078493°N 129.080272°E / 35.078493; 129.080272 (Korea National Maritime Museum) 7°15′15″N 80°35′48″E / 7.25417°N 80.59667°E / 7.25417; 80.59667 (University of Peradeniya) 38°34′15″N 68°47′31″E / 38.570959°N 68.791934°E / 38.570959; 68.791934 (Institute of the Written Heritage of the Academy of Sciences, Dushanbe) 13°45′30″N 100°29′30″E / 13.758195°N 100.491799°E / 13.758195; 100.491799 (Bangkok National Museum) 13°46′20″N 100°30′18″E / 13.772305°N 100.505114°E / 13.772305; 100.505114 (National Library of Thailand) 13°44′48″N 100°29′36″E / 13.746538°N 100.493298°E / 13.746538; 100.493298 (Wat Pho, Bangkok) 13°46′23″N 100°30′16″E / 13.773143°N 100.504566°E / 13.773143; 100.504566 (National Archives of Thailand) 13°46′23″N 100°30′16″E / 13.773143°N 100.504566°E / 13.773143; 100.504566 (National Archives of Thailand) 8°33′20″S 125°34′39″E / 8.555558°S 125.577499°E / -8.555558; 125.577499 (Archives & Museum of East Timorese Resistance) 41°19′32″N 69°14′29″E / 41.325571°N 69.241367°E / 41.325571; 69.241367 (The Muslim Board of Uzbekistan, Tashkent) 41°18′24″N 69°17′12″E / 41.306589°N 69.286559°E / 41.306589; 69.286559 (Academy of Sciences, Tashkent) 41°17′15″N 69°13′44″E / 41.287496°N 69.228878°E / 41.287496; 69.228878 (Central State Archive of the Republic of Uzbekistan) 51°31′26″N 0°08′24″W / 51.523794°N 0.140062°W / 51.523794; -0.140062 (Royal Anthropological Institute, London) 21°01′57″N 105°48′33″E / 21.032576°N 105.809181°E / 21.032576; 105.809181 (State Records and Archives Department of Vietnam) 21°01′46″N 105°50′10″E / 21.029363°N 105.836164°E / 21.029363; 105.836164 (Temple of Literature, Hanoi) 21°01′01″N 105°47′53″E / 21.016896°N 105.798097°E / 21.016896; 105.798097 (National Archives Centre No.1, Hanoi) ^ Names and spellings provided are based on the official list released by the Memory of the World Programme.