Funded by AMICAL's Elisabetta Morani Library Staff Development Grant, three library staff members from the Conservation and Preservation Section, Jad Zahran, Shaza Jammal, and Elias Abboud, attended a seminar entitled “Conservation and restoration of manuscripts written in metallic ink and production of conservation bindings of different typologies."
The seminar was held at
Beit Gazo Conservation Center between June 14 and 25, 2022 and was organized by the National Library of France and Beit Gazo Conservation Center.
Attendees participated in discussions and hands-on exercises covering several conservation and restoration skills and techniques. The seminar offered a great opportunity to widen staff's expertise and knowledge. New skills were acquired related to accurately identify whether iron gall ink was used (highly acidic and oxidizes over time, causing text loss), and to safely take preventive and stabilizing measures that will ensure manuscripts' long-term preservation and safe access.
All three participants were awarded a certificate upon the successful completion of the seminar.
The Conservation and Preservation Section (CPS) at the AUB Libraries focuses on the protection and care of AUB's cultural heritage, including the Early Printed Books, Maps, Manuscripts, Photos and Posters stored in the
Archives and Special Collections. The CPS also takes care of repairing the circulating materials that are stored in the General stacks. Learn more about the UL's Conservation and Preservation services by visiting their website:
https://www.aub.edu.lb/Libraries/CPS/Pages/default.aspx