Representatives from the U.S. Embassy, the National Library of Mongolia (NLM), and the Arizona-based nonprofit Asian Legacy Library (ALL) marked the completion of a three-year effort to conserve ancient Tibetan manuscripts and woodblock prints at NLM. The project was supported by funding from the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) and ALL.
The initiative, which began in 2022 and concluded in 2025, preserved over 77,000 manuscript titles and woodblock prints held at NLM. ALL contributed technical expertise, managed digitization efforts, and partnered with the Buddhist Digital Resource Center to make these materials accessible worldwide.
Key achievements included digitally preserving 4,383 volumes, scanning more than 1.4 million pages, and cataloging 77,544 titles—five times higher than initially planned. The preserved manuscripts encompass traditional knowledge, rituals, epic narratives, treatises, and other aspects of Mongolian heritage.
The project's benefits reached beyond NLM to institutions such as Zanabazar University at Gandan Monastery and Erdene Zuu Monastery in Kharkhorin. NLM also facilitated scholarly activities like conferences and educational field trips related to the project.
“Preserving these manuscripts is a testament to the enduring partnership between the United States and Mongolia,” U.S. Ambassador Richard L. Buangan said during remarks at the National Library of Mongolia. “Together, we have safeguarded invaluable cultural treasures, ensuring that future generations can access and learn from this rich heritage. This collaboration exemplifies the power of international cooperation in preserving our shared history.”
This collaboration demonstrates U.S. support for Mongolia’s historical legacy while also highlighting American contributions in technological innovation for global heritage preservation.
B. Ichinkhorloo serves as Director of the National Library of Mongolia; John Brady is President of Asian Legacy Library.