The United Nations office in Samoa will set up a digital library that will focus on Samoan book collections, studies and research.

The plan was revealed by the  United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Simona Marinescu, who said the digital library will be the United Nations' contribution to the future of Samoa. 

“The UN is behind this project and we would like to store the collection into the digital library so many years after when this museum may not necessarily be around Samoans," she said.

“And people interested in learning about Samoa could have access to collections and to books and to studies and research so that’s our contribution to Samoa’s future if you wish."

Speaking on the sidelines of the Dorothea Heimrod’s photography exhibition last Thursday at the National Museum, Ms. Marinescu said she was pleased that the opening of the photo exhibition coincided with the celebrations of International Women's Day. 

“Because ultimately the woman behind the camera – who at the time any woman would not have the privilege to express and made this collection of photos for us – to look at and to travel in time,” she said.

She said through the photographs, she learnt more about Dorothea’s life in Samoa and period of the German colonial administration and she was grateful.

“At UN we value any form of expression that allows newer generations to talk to previous ones and this is a piece of reality that we are happy to have access to. And I’m also hopeful we could have a copy of the photo collection saved into the library of the UN,” she added.

Ms. Marinescu said it was a pleasure to meet the museum staff and see how everything about culture and history in Samoa is well preserved. 

“The United Nations has a huge library of documentaries, and photos and maps the entire world has access to and also Samoa is under represented in all those digital libraries around the world,” she added.