Only 24 Percent Of Ancient Scripts In Indonesia Have Been Protected

Head of National Library Muhammad Syarif Bando in Jakarta, Wednesday (26/9/2023) (PHOTO ANTARA/HO-Perpusnas)

JAKARTA - The National Library (Perpusnas) recorded that 19,726 copies or 24 percent of ancient manuscripts in Indonesia had been preserved or protected until 2022.

"The number of ancient manuscripts in Indonesia was recorded at 82,158 copies stored in the National Library, regional public libraries, state museums in the regions, traditional institutions, community-owned foundations, pesantren, and stored by the community personally as a legacy from their ancestors," said Head of National Library, Muhammad Syarif Bando, in Jakarta, Tuesday, September 26, confiscated by Antara.

Meanwhile, in Perpusnas until September 2023, the number of collections of ancient manuscripts was recorded at 12,507 copies.

He said Indonesia has extraordinary wealth because it has the oldest manuscript. The library keeps the library as a symbol of the scientific bridge in the past, the present, and the future.

The ancient naskah is not only a treasure of state culture, but also a valuable relic of the world. Because it explains the relationship between countries in the world related to culture, economy and law," he said.

In the future, his party hopes that there will be collaboration between the National Library and experts to tell Indonesia's position among the nations in the world.

Throughout 2023, said Muhammad Syarif Bando, Perpusnas has provided 806 copies of ancient script preservation assistance. The manuscript is spread over 14 locuss in 11 provinces, namely West Sumatra, Riau Islands, Jambi, Banten, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, Southeast Sulawesi, and Maluku.

The Head of Preservation and Transfer of Library Material Media, Made Ayu Wirayati, stated that based on Law Number 43 of 2007 concerning Library, the central government and local governments have the authority to provide ancient manuscripts owned by the public.

However, most of the partners in the regions, in this case provincial and district/city libraries, are not ready to save ancient manuscripts in their regions. Infeasible facilities and infrastructure, the lack of storage human resources and the lack of budget related to preservation are said to be an obstacle in saving ancient manuscripts in the regions.

"Of course it is a big task for all of us because we are in a race against time. The ancient manuscript over 50 years old with a tropical climate certainly has an effect on accelerating the destruction of ancient manuscripts," said Wirayati.

The condition of the ancient manuscript in the area, he said, was very worrying. Many scripts were found in the condition of ink corrosion, the script was in a cupboard full of termites, so it needed to be saved immediately so that not all the scripts were destroyed.

Pelestarian fisik, kata Made Ayu Wirayati, dilakukan dalam bentuk perawatan, pembersihan, perbaikan, penjilidan dan restorasi. Sedangkan pelestarian informasi dengan melakukan alih media dalam bentuk digital.

Meanwhile, recipients of assistance for the preservation of ancient manuscripts from West Sumatra (West Sumatra), Pramono, said that the restoration carried out by the National Library is one of the important collections in West Sumatra because it has the number of scripts reaching 88 bundles of manuscripts.

"This fate is considered important in West Sumatra because apart from the significant amount, the content of the script in Surau Simauang is also very diverse," he said. The result of its preservation is the transfer of 53 copies of media, the conservation of 12 copies of copies, as well as the manufacture of 33 copies of facilities, storage and examiners, said Pramono.