The Urgency of Digitizing Ancient Indonesian Manuscripts in Libraries: A Literature Review

Abstract

Ancient Indonesian manuscripts are invaluable intellectual treasures that reflect a rich cultural and historical heritage. In libraries throughout Indonesia, collections of these ancient manuscripts serve as crucial sources of information for studies in history, linguistics, anthropology, and various other academic disciplines. Thus, researchers conduct an investigation into the digitization of ancient manuscripts in Indonesia through a literature review.The research method employed in this study is a systematic literature review (SLR). The SLR method is carried out systematically by following stages that allow the literature review process to be free from bias and the subjective understanding of the researcher. The techniques used in the systematic literature review process include planning, conducting, and reporting. Data are collected from scholarly publications available on Scopus and Google Scholar with the topic of digitizing ancient manuscripts in Indonesia.The study concludes that the digitization of Indonesian ancient manuscripts is crucial. First, digitization provides broader access to ancient manuscripts. Researchers worldwide can access and study Indonesian ancient manuscripts without having to visit a physical library. Second, digitization is used to preserve ancient manuscripts. Ancient manuscripts are prone to damage due to time and environmental factors. By producing secure digital copies, the risk of losing manuscripts is significantly reduced. Third, digitization facilitates deeper text analysis. With the assistance of natural language processing technology and data analysis, researchers can unveil hidden information in ancient manuscripts. This information may include language relationships, themes, or historical trends. Finally, digitization supports the development of digital libraries and institutional repositories.