The first inscriptions on the UNESCO Memory of the World International Register were announced in 1997.
[1] By creating a compendium of important library and archive holdings – including books, manuscripts, audio-visual materials, and digital documents[2] – the program aims to use its networks of experts to exchange information and raise resources for the preservation, digitization, and dissemination of documentary materials.
[3] As of 2023, 494 pieces of documentary heritage have been included in the register.
[4] They include recordings of folk music, ancient languages and phonetics; aged remnants of religious and secular manuscripts; collected lifetime works of renowned figures of literature, science, and music; copies of motion pictures and short films; and accounts documenting changes in the world’s political, economic and social stage.
50°49′33″N 4°22′32″E / 50.825953°N 4.375628°E / 50.825953; 4.375628 (Christopher Okigbo Foundation) 8°49′04″S 13°13′52″E / 8.817705°S 13.231108°E / -8.817705; 13.231108 (Arquivo Nacional de Angola) 6°30′39″N 2°36′25″E / 6.510954°N 2.606833°E / 6.510954; 2.606833 (National Archives, Porto-Novo) 9°01′04″N 38°44′58″E / 9.017869°N 38.749318°E / 9.017869; 38.749318 (National Archives and Library of Ethiopia) 5°33′40″N 0°12′29″W / 5.561230°N 0.207952°W / 5.561230; -0.207952 (National Archives of Ghana) 18°54′24″S 47°31′09″E / 18.906557°S 47.519057°E / -18.906557; 47.519057 (Department of National Archives, Antananarivo) 16°46′20″N 3°00′31″W / 16.77227°N 3.00855°W / 16.77227; -3.00855 (Mamma Haidara Commemorative Library) 16°46′36″N 3°00′21″W / 16.77663°N 3.00575°W / 16.77663; -3.00575 (Ahmed Baba Institute) 17°02′04″N 1°24′32″W / 17.0345431°N 1.4087605°W / 17.0345431; -1.4087605 (Ahmed Baba Institute) 16°15′51″N 0°03′04″W / 16.2642627°N 0.0512146°W / 16.2642627; -0.0512146 (Ahmed Baba Institute) 16°52′45″N 1°55′46″W / 16.8791262°N 1.9293344°W / 16.8791262; -1.9293344 (Ahmed Baba Institute) 16°50′24″N 2°31′48″W / 16.8399082°N 2.5301112°W / 16.8399082; -2.5301112 (Ahmed Baba Institute) 16°46′20″N 3°00′31″W / 16.77227°N 3.00855°W / 16.77227; -3.00855 (Ahmed Baba Institute) 20°11′18″S 57°28′05″E / 20.188388°S 57.468040°E / -20.188388; 57.468040 (Mauritius Archives) 20°11′18″S 57°27′57″E / 20.1883723°S 57.465845°E / -20.1883723; 57.465845 (National Archives Department) 20°09′52″S 57°29′53″E / 20.1644551°S 57.4981759°E / -20.1644551; 57.4981759 (National Library) 20°13′38″S 57°30′02″E / 20.2271633°S 57.500497°E / -20.2271633; 57.500497 (Mahatma Gandhi Institute) 22°33′26″S 17°05′11″E / 22.557201°S 17.086442°E / -22.557201; 17.086442 (National Archives of Namibia) 48°08′10″N 11°33′44″E / 48.1360011°N 11.5623301°E / 48.1360011; 11.5623301 (Personal Archives of Dr. Klaus Goebel) 16°46′36″N 3°00′21″W / 16.77663°N 3.00575°W / 16.77663; -3.00575 (Ahmed Baba Institute) 16°46′36″N 3°00′21″W / 16.77663°N 3.00575°W / 16.77663; -3.00575 (Ahmed Baba Institute) 16°46′36″N 3°00′21″W / 16.77663°N 3.00575°W / 16.77663; -3.00575 (Ahmed Baba Institute) 33°57′29″S 18°27′39″E / 33.958056°S 18.460833°E / -33.958056; 18.460833 (Ahmed Baba Institute) 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) 33°57′29″S 18°27′39″E / 33.958070°S 18.460832°E / -33.958070; 18.460832 (The National Archives and Records Service of South Africa) 34°01′00″S 18°23′21″E / 34.016636°S 18.389210°E / -34.016636; 18.389210 (Doxa Productions) 25°44′11″S 28°12′21″E / 25.736375°S 28.205835°E / -25.736375; 28.205835 (National Archives and Records Service of South Africa) 6°48′35″S 39°17′08″E / 6.809694°S 39.285492°E / -6.809694; 39.285492 (National Archives, Dar es Salaam) 6°10′35″S 39°12′06″E / 6.1764393°S 39.2016237°E / -6.1764393; 39.2016237 (Zanzibar National Archives) 17°47′40″S 31°03′50″E / 17.794351°S 31.063766°E / -17.794351; 31.063766 (National Archives of Zimbabwe) ^ Names and spellings provided are based on the official list released by the Memory of the World Programme.