Digitization of Manuscripts - A Technical Point of View
A tremendous quantity of information in various formats is created daily through newspapers, books, CD-ROMs, radio, and TV programmes. It is difficult to be orientated in such a flood of information without the help of computer technology, while the information data continues to grow [...]

Indigenous Methods of Preserving Manuscripts
The holdings of libraries, museums, archives, and other documentation centers are the priceless heritage of mankind. Not only in the context ancient lore but also in the context of medieval and modern age manuscripts are considered as the most important source of authenticity. The manuscripts constitute our most precious national and cultural heritage [..]

The Deterioration and Preservation of Paper
Paper deterioration is still a problem. But, thanks to decades of scientific research -- much of it supported by libraries and archives -- this deterioration is no longer a mystery. The preservation strategy at the Library of Congress has traditionally benefitted by insights provided by science [...]

Coptic Manuscripts
Ancient Egyptians recorded texts on rolls of papyrus, a type of paper made from a marsh plant. They used black ink for the main text and wrote from right to left. Some rolls have been found as long as 90 feet with detailed illustrations in beautiful colors. The papyrus [...]

Dr. Ziedan for Heritage and Manuscripts
The website of Dr. Youssef Ziedan, Director of the Manuscripts Center and Manuscripts Museum at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt, provides a wealth of information on Arab and Islamic heritage and manuscripts [...]

Arabib and Ajami Manuscripts
It is indeed mind-boggling to note that even as at the mid twentieth Century, there were still serious minded historians such as Trevor Roper and Margery Perham who still adhered to the unfortunate notion that prior to advent of the colonial powers, the African region had no record of his own history. In Ropers own words: “…There is only the history of Europeans in Africa. The rest is darkness and darkness is not subject of history”. Coincidentally, there were around the same time, open-minded historians such as Trimingham Spencer and Michael Crowder who were bent on saying the truth as naked as it was. The latter scholars upon residing in Africa and rigorously researching into the continent, found more than enough reasons not only to question the veracity of Roper’s claim, but also to declare it as an unfounded. Following these developments, the need to study the African history from the perspective of those who were the embodiments of the history itself became eminent. Hence, through the efforts of dedicated scholars such as Thomas Hodgkin, Ivor Wilks, Nehemiah Levztion and John Hunwick to mention but just a few, the dawn of the 1960’s saw the establishment of local archives within the major Universities in the sub-region.[...]

Handling Archival Documents And Manuscripts

All users of archival collections, including museum staff, should learn collection handling procedures. Proper handling can greatly extend the life of the material. Basic handling procedures for archival documents and manuscripts are provided in this Conserve 0 Gram. [...]

Cultural heritage protection handbook : Care and Handling of Manuscripts

This booklet is intended for all who collect and are fond of manuscripts, as well as those in charge of public or private collections of manuscripts and rare books. 
The principles given here concerning the preservation of manuscripts can also be applied to printed books and bound documents. [...]

The Building of a New Library in Timbuktu

Although I only first traveled to Timbuktu in November 2005, I am part of a larger architectural and building team that is planning and building a new library in Timbuktu to house the old Ahmed Baba Centre collection of manuscripts. This project is only part of the greater South African-Mali Presidential Project, which aims at the preservation and promotion of the rich and ancient legacy of African scholarship in this famous city. [...]

Angola unveils 22 new monuments
Ondjiva, Angola (PANA) - Twenty two new historical monuments and sites were unveiled in 2009 in the southern Cunene region of Angola, the provincial director for culture, Celestino Vicente, disclosed Friday [...]

Mali to develop handicrafts industry
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The Malian government plans to develop its handicrafts sec tor with funds totalling 12.2 billion CFA, PANA learnt from official sources her e on Thursday.
The handicrafts sector, comprising 171 trades which are further divided into sev en categories, has received significant support in recent years [...]

Tripoli to host tourist and cultural festival
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The first edition of the tourist and cultural festival in Tripoli will take place in late April, organizers announced on Wednesday.  The three-day event will be set against the background of the spaces and decorat ions of the old Medina area in Tripoli [...]