Manuscripts 'should be put online'

MORE THAN 10,000 people have signed an online petition to press the National Library of Thailand (NLT) into offering online access to ancient manuscripts originating before King Rama I’s reign.
The move is intended to improve public access to the country’s ancient manuscripts as well as boost efforts to maintain them.
Prapassorn Posrithong, the researcher who started the online petition, will tomorrow submit the list of people supporting her idea to the Fine Arts Department director general Borvornvate Rungrujee.
“I’ve recognised the need for the online service from my direct experiences at the NLT,” she said.
As a history researcher, Prapas-sorn has often sought information from ancient manuscripts available at the NLT. Those experiences show her there is a risk of the manuscripts being damaged as the library allows direct contact.
“White-powder texts on Thai black paper, when touched, may faint or blur,” she pointed out.
Prapassorn said without the online services, people who want to see ancient manuscripts have to spend days just reading the list of documents that are available.
“For researchers from the provinces, this also means a lot of money. When they travel to Bangkok, they have to pay for accommodation,” she pointed out.
Her online petition made via www.change.org says the National Library should make an online service for ancient manuscripts available within one year from now.
Prapassorn also called for the list of files of ancient manuscripts to be turned into PDF files and available online in two months.
“I started this campaign because I regard ancient manuscripts as national heritage. They deserve proper maintenance.”
She said when ancient manuscripts become more accessible to the public, extensive research on history-related subjects would be conducted. “We need to remove the physical barriers to documents with huge historical and academic value,” Prapassorn said.
Thousands of people have clearly agreed with her. Korakij Distan from Bangkok said making ancient documents available in digital format would allow not just Thais but also people from across the world to access that valuable information.