Afghan Treasures Receive Virtual Repatriation

Librarian of Congress James H. Billington (right) joins Carnegie Corporation of New York President Vartan Gregorian, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the January 10 presentation to President Karzai of a framed copy of a rare Afghan manuscript from LC’s collection, seen here on display at the US Department of State in Washington, D.C. The ceremony also marked the announcement that LC was providing the Afghan people, through the World Digital Library, with a digital copy of the entire body of Afghanistan-related works held by the library. The gift was made possible by a $2 million donation from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. LC is also giving copies of these treasures to Afghan institutions that include the National Library of Afghanistan, the American University of Afghanistan, Badakhsan University, Balkh University, Bamiyan University, Herat University, Kabul University, Kandahar University, and Nangarhar University. Photo by US Department of State.