Brief History of the Agency (from I944-2014)

The public Library “Wemezekir” Currently, the Ethiopian National Archives and Library Agency was established in 1944. It was first inaugurated by his majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I and started giving services with the books donated by him.

Currently, the Ethiopian National Archives and Library Agency was reestablished in 1999 by proclamation No. 179/1999 as a National Institution having the name Ethiopian National Archives and library Agency.

Having made a number of structural changes in its old-age history, the Agency has been delivering lots of services, particularly to the researchers, scholars, academicians, writers, higher education students and the public at large.

Powers and Duties of the Agency among others

• Operate as a national repository Centre of Printed materials, gray literature, non-printed documents, manuscripts, historical archives and records etc.

• Make efforts to bring to the country the original or copy of literary documents which were taken out of the country.

• Prepare, publish and distribute the Ethiopian National Bibliography and periodicals Index.
• Serve as a national registry center of ISBN.
• Function as a training center to achieve its objectives.
• Work closely with national and international organizations to develop and promote professions pertaining to archives and library affairs.
• Serve as a repository center for publication of international and national organizations as well as research institutions.
• Work in collaboration with state archive and libraries as well as public libraries established or to be established in regional administration.
• Ensure the proper handling and safety of records in prevents.
• Nationalize archives which have national importance and which are which are in possession of individuals upon payment of compensation whenever they are exposed to man or natural disasters.
• Ensure that original archives and documentary heritage of the country are not taken abroad on a permanent basis; inspect copies and permit for their being taken out of the country.

The four Gospels

(Registered by UNSECO as World Documentary Heritage in 1977)

The manuscript is written on parchment in Geez Language, with good and bolded hand writing. The dimension is 24.5 x 20.5C.M, 327 pages, 20-24 lines, 2 columns. It is binded with wooden boards. The first 45 pages of the book are filled with painting pictures and tables. The manuscript is part of the New Testament .It contains the four Gospels. The way of paintings extremely reflects the old traditional painting of Ethiopia. It is registered in the memory of the world as world literary heritages by UNESCO.

Book of Henok

(Registered by UNSECO as World Documentary Heritage in 1977)

The manuscript is written in Geez Language in the 15^th century. The size of the manuscript is 15.5 x 19 C.M and 160 pages. It is written on parchment and binded with wooden boards. The content of the manuscript deals with astronomical science. It explains in detail how sun, moon and stars rotate round the earth in the universe. The book narrates about the world from its creation to the end of theist. The manuscript is prophetical book. Ethiopian contributes this book to the world after being disappeared from the world with its first version of Hebrew. It is registered by UNESCO as a world Literary in 1997.

Book of Cultural Medicine

(Registered by UNSECO as World Documentary Heritage in 1977)

The book is copied from the oldest parchment manuscript. Its sizes 22X16 C.M and have 167 pages, it has also I column and 18 lines on each page. The content of the book deals with 131 diseases and how the medicines are prepared from different plants culturally. The types of plants are the bases for modern pharmaceutical science. The way and technique of preparation of cultural medicine are extremely indigenous knowledge.

Letter of King Tewodros

(Registered by UNSECO as World Documentary Heritage in 1977)

The document is governmental correspondence of the 19th century. The letter is written on especial paper in the Amharic Language. The size of the document is 43 x 35 C.M and written in one page. The letter is original and it deals with the misunderstanding created between king Tewodros and the Queen of Britain and urging the Ethiopian people to go along with the direction the king has started so as to develop the nation, Ethiopia and his dream to bring about a complete one nation. The document is registered in the memory of the world as a world literary heritage by UNSECO.

Bahire Hassab /Sea of computes/

(On the process be Registered by UNSECO as World Documentary Heritage in 2015)

The manuscript is written in Geez Language on parchment in 14^th century. The size of the book 22 x 20 C.M column, and has 24 lines. The content of the manuscript deals with primarily with the mathematical system used by the Ethiopian people for determining their calendar. The book contains different treaties with a great variety of topics, ranging from short computes summaries to larger works with astronomical and metrological tables and numerous important historical notes. It calculates the Ethiopian way of calendar system differently from the calendar of the rest of the world.

Source:- Ethiopian National Archives and Library Agency