Useful Links
The Endangered Archives Programme of the British Library addresses the global threat to archives and draws particular attention to the threat to private papers and to the records of marginalised people. The programme provides grants to individual researchers to identify and protect valuable collections. Records digitised to date may be viewed online.
Since 1992 UNESCO's Memory of the World programme has worked in in conjunction with national governments to identify, preserve and in some cases digitise the world's documentary heritage. The Memory of the World Register is a useful guide to some less conventional holdings (although the site does not provide direct access to digitised records).
The Universal Declaration on Archives was developed by the International Council on Archives and endorsed by UNESCO in November 2011. The declaration is adopted by countries at national level, but in principle it includes the protection of archives pertaining to mobile or marginalised peoples and histories, in its recognition of the 'diversity of archives in recording every area of human activity' and the 'multiplicity of formats in which archives are created'.
The rescue of Timbuktu's libraries is a heartening case demonstrating how documents may be saved against very great odds.
A number of cultural and architectural heritage initiatives across South and South East Asia have their own websites. Links related to contributions on our site which may be of interest include:
The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)