Semarang, ANTARA JATENG - The Central Java provincial government is facilitating the establishment of a "Center of Excellence" to present a diverse collection of cultures from 35 districts and cities across the province, a local official stated.

"Establishment of the Center of Excellence is part of the National Digital Library Development Program, initiated by the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia," Central Java Regional Secretary Sri Puryono remarked here on Wednesday.

According to Puryono, the Center of Excellence for showcasing Central Java`s local culture is deemed important to provide information on the different cultural backgrounds in the province.

"Several parties have voiced the need to set up a Center of Excellence to house a `database` of various local cultures in this province," Puryono emphasized.

Puryono pointed out that the Center of Excellence for highlighting the local culture in Central Java will not merely serve as a repository of information but also as a learning center for young people.

With the establishment of the Center of Excellence, he said cultural information can be accessed easily, quickly, and economically, and hence, it is expected that Central Java`s local culture will be preserved and will continue to grow in the midst of the exposure to foreign cultures.

To this end, Puryono has instructed the Department of Archive and Library of Central Java Province to immediately identify and map the sites of local wisdom.

The mapping is carried out in the form of books, manuscripts, and oral information that have artistic and historical importance for the communities of Central Java.