Islamic manuscripts from around the world are soon to be protected by the establishment of a new international association.

Last year the Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation, based in Lichtenstein, and the Centre of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at the University of Cambridge hosted a successful conference during which the first steps were taken towards setting up The Islamic Manuscript Association (TIMA).

In August, scholars, dignitaries, and directors of libraries and museums from around the world will gather together at Emmanuel College to celebrate TIMA’s launch with an official signing ceremony.

This new international body aims to standardize the access to digital and microfilm images of manuscripts as well as protect the rights of those who possess Islamic scripts. TIMA will also assist in creating a universal cataloguing system, encourage conservation, and assess the needs of collections around the world.

"Given the number of eminent scholars and library directors who will be attending this summer's conference,” said Phoebe Luckyn-Malone from the Centre of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, “TIMA seems set to become the leading institution to promote the protection of Islamic manuscripts.”

The conference, entitled ‘The Islamic Manuscript II: A Conference to Establish the Islamic Manuscript Association’ will be held at Emmanuel College, Cambridge from 7-9 August.

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