Interoperability of Indonesian Manuscripts Digital Repositories: Readiness and Challenges

Abstract With the growing awareness of manuscripts as cultural heritage, digitization has become a prominent preservation effort in Indonesia. However, its outcomes have not been fully optimized, as digitization often stops at document scanning through photography or imaging, without considering how digital data and metadata can be effectively presented for scholarly use. This article aims to: (1) identify existing digital manuscript databases, (2) analyze the implementation of FAIR principles, and (3) examine challenges in managing Indonesia’s digital manuscript data to support interoperability. Using observation of several manuscript databases, 12 selected manuscript repositories are analyzed through FAIR principles and indicators. Focus group discussions with stakeholders in Indonesia’s manuscript digitization initiatives are conducted to examine interoperability readiness from existing repository manuscript. The study finds that most databases or repositories do not yet comply with FAIR principles, revealing a lack of readiness for data and metadata interoperability. This condition stems from variations in data standards and limited human resource capacity. The findings not only reflect the state of digital manuscript data management in Indonesia but also highlight implications for global manuscript digitization, particularly the need for harmonized metadata standards and cross-national interoperability to strengthen the global knowledge ecosystem.