International organizations: UNESCO helps Uzbekistan extend life of Central Asian documentary heritage

UNESCO’s Office in Tashkent organized several training sessions for specialists from the Al-Beruni Institute of Oriental Studies (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) in order to enhance their ability to deal with manuscripts’ storage, manipulation, preservation and conservation. The Institute holds one of the most important collections of Central Asian manuscripts, reflecting the role of this part of the world as a crossroads of the Silk Road. Around 26 000 manuscripts, dating from the IX to the XX century, are inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.

Within the framework of the UNESCO project “Preservation of the manuscripts collection of the Al-Beruni Institute of Oriental Studies, Academy of Sciences, Tashkent, Uzbekistan” Al-Beruni’s restorers got acquainted with treatment methodology in paper conservation; got familiar with production of protective container for manuscripts’ storing; and learnt how to deal with dust removal techniques. All those practical elements were accompanied by the introduction of the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Protection Handbook, Care and Handling of Manuscripts.

Another major achievement of the project is the renovation works conducted in the Al-Beruni Institute. All storage areas were renewed through painting, air conditioning and improvement of safety conditions. Staff got trained on manipulation of manuscripts and sensitized to disaster preparedness, response and recovery. The conservation laboratory also underwent refreshing, and brand new equipment, material and products were acquired.

The outcomes of the project will include a handbook written by international expert Mr Mirabile to help the Al-Beruni Institute to set up and design policies and procedures in the field of acquisition, communication, conservation and storage of manuscripts.

Lastly, a trilingual catalogue of the Institute collection, Treasury of the Oriental Manuscripts of the Al-Beruni Institute of Oriental Studies, will be published for the first time. The organization of an exhibition with selected manuscripts will also help raise public awareness about this unique collection.

There is no doubt that all these efforts will improve conditions of the 25 261 volumes of the Al-Beruni collection, and its maintenance and management will be ensured with best practices. These precious documents, inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register will be accessible for study, research and public audience even easily than today, with better respect of their integrity, authenticity and conditions.