Nearly 150 manuscripts out of the 1,025 located at the Emir Abdelkader University of Islamic Sciences in Constantine were digitized, the University’s head of manuscripts section, Adel Said Toumi said Tuesday. Speaking at a conference dedicated to "scientific methods of preservation of archives", organized at the Ahmed Bey Palace as part of the celebration of Heritage Month, Toumi said that the experience of digitizing manuscripts had begun in December 2011 to result in the digitization, so far, of 148manuscripts covering Maliki fiqh, Arabic language and history. The digitization of these manuscripts is carried out in collaboration with the Embassy of the United States of America in Algeria, the same official said, adding that an American expert activating Turkey has been designated to participate in restoration projects and digitization of manuscripts of Emir Abdelkader University. About the preservation of Ancient Cirta rich heritage, Toumi said that three workshops of rehabilitation, maintenance and digitization have been established for the recovery and preservation of local heritage. The same official noted, in this regard, that "advanced” peak of manuscripts digitization had been offered by the United States to the Islamic University to carry out this preservation.