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The Vatican Library has partnered with NTT DATA Italia to use blockchain technology to preserve its vast collection of manuscripts.
Announced On June 17, the “Vatican Library Web3 Support Project” aims to expand the library's online community and engage its followers through modern technology.
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The Vatican Library, which houses around 180,000 manuscripts and more than 1.5 million printed books, will distribute non-fungible tokens (nfts) to donors and social media users. Currently, this experimental project is limited to Italian residents. However, a trial phase was initially launched in Japan in February 2023.
Those who shared the nft project on their social media accounts before July 16 received a “silver nft.” This nft gave them access to a special collection of high-resolution images of 15 manuscripts.
Those who financially support the project will receive a “golden nft,” which will give them access to high-resolution images of all 21 manuscripts in the collection.
To date, 419 users have received Polygon-based nfts, according to a proof of concept from OpenSea, showing the usefulness of blockchain technology in safeguarding cultural heritage. These nfts are soul-linked, meaning they are non-transferable and permanently linked to the recipient's digital wallet.
Future applications
The Vatican Library, one of the oldest and most important repositories of historical texts, dates back to the 14th century (the Catholic Church has maintained a library and archive since the 13th century).
This web3 project is intended to further the library's mission of making ancient documents more accessible to the public.
In 2020, the Vatican Library launched a new website with improved search functions and easier access to digital reproductions of manuscripts, inventories and archival materials, among others. The campaign aims to preserve cultural heritage, and future plans could include immersive extended reality (XR) experiences, such as augmented or virtual reality.
NTT DATA Italia has been collaborating with the Vatican Library since 2014, using its AMLAD digital archive service, which includes more than 2 million assets, to preserve historical documents. The company has invested billions of dollars in web3 infrastructure and will also launch a crypto wallet later this year, reinforcing its commitment to the digital future.
