CSMC Signs Two New Memoranda of Understanding

13 October 2025

The CSMC has signed Memoranda of Understanding with the National Library and Archives of Bhutan and the National Library of Peru in Lima. The latter was formally concluded this week during a meeting between Peru’s Consul General in Hamburg, Sandra Pinto La Fuente, and CSMC Director Konrad Hirschler.

Located in Thimphu, the National Library and Archives of Bhutan serves as the principal repository for the country’s written, printed, and archival heritage. Since its founding in 1967, the library has curated an impressive collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts. Beyond preserving these rare and valuable texts, it supports research, education, and the broader study of Bhutan’s history and culture.

Significantly, the library holds materials highly relevant to our Working Group on ‘Asian Highland Manuscripts’, led by Agnieszka Helman-Wazny. This group develops systematic methods for studying manuscripts produced by ethnic and religious minorities, including Tibetan, Naxi, Bai, Yao, Lanten, Hmong, Tai, and other groups. Their research seeks to advance our understanding of the resources, skills, technologies, innovations, and social values associated with manuscript production in Asian Highland regions, and to explore the fluid boundaries and interactions among different manuscript traditions. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) represents a major milestone for the group’s ongoing research initiatives.

Similarly, the new MoU with the National Library of Peru in Lima paves the way for a range of collaborative opportunities. Founded in 1821, the library is Peru’s foremost institution for the preservation and promotion of its bibliographic and documentary heritage, and ranks among the oldest libraries in Latin America. Its vast collections safeguard rare books, manuscripts, maps, and historical documents, including musical manuscripts that are central to a CSMC project on ‘Archiving Colonialism: The Collections of Musical Manuscripts from Peru’, carried out by Matteo Nanni and Daniel Kudo. With this new partnership, it is now possible to digitise to these significant musical collections.

On 13 October, Consul Sandra Pinto La Fuente visited CSMC to officially sign the partnership agreement with Director Konrad Hirschler. Both parties expressed optimism that this two-year collaboration will deepen understanding of Peru’s rich historical legacy, benefiting researchers and the wider public alike.

CSMC now maintains over 50 Memoranda of Understanding with universities, libraries, and museums worldwide, alongside numerous other formal and informal partnerships.