Book preservation in developing countries
Encyclopedia
Book preservation in developing countries is a growing concern among preservation
and conservation librarians. Without proper resources and training, many countries around the world struggle to maintain books and manuscripts as part of their cultural history. Environmental conditions pose perhaps the greatest threat to these materials. Political instability also endangers library and museum collections. Recent contributions are helping to address specific needs and promote the development of preservation programs.
, Africa
, and the Middle East
have been identified as areas with materials having critical need for preservation. Local librarians and archivists struggle to provide access for patrons while protecting the structural integrity of materials against damage from over-use, neglect, and extreme climate conditions.
This is especially difficult as print materials in developing countries are often created using fragile, non-lasting paper product and ink. Providing information and education about preservation practices and principles is becoming an increasing focus for professionals working in countries with established practices. Beginning around 2005, efforts have been made to establish guidelines for developing countries to use in implementing preservation and conservation programs.
became Cornell University Library
's first preservation and conservation librarian. Dean's efforts have helped the Department of Preservation and Conservation at Cornell grow into one of the leading programs of its kind in the United States. Aside from his work at Cornell, Dean has made important contributions towards improving preservation efforts in developing countries. He has created online tutorials for library conservation and preservation in Southeast Asia and Iraq and the Middle East. The tutorials are designed so that librarians and archivists in these and other countries have a set of basic guidelines to refer to when dealing with preservation issues. Specific topics addressed in the tutorials include "Management and Planning," "Preservation," "Building Capacity" and "Supporting the Effort." Both tutorials are available in English; the tutorial for Iraq and the Middle East is also available in Arabic.
climate. The expense involved in creating an ideal environment in both energy and manpower would counteract positive outcomes for the condition of collections. Puerto Rico also has an additional concern with preservation: due to political instability in the past, many libraries and collections have been destroyed, which places a greater need on preserving what is left. Munoz-Sola also points out that many developing countries are in tropical climates, and thus face these problems.
make the effort to adapt advanced preservation techniques to their home area by hiring local craftsmen to manufacture necessary tools and equipment. This library has a well-established conservation program, with staff trained at workshops in Europe.
The L’viv National University Library in Bulgaria received enough funds from their government to build a new facility to house extra collections and offices. However the new building, with its brand new heating system has caused the collections to deteriorate much more rapidly than those collections stored in the main building which has thick stone walls and a naturally occurring stable environment. These countries are coping with the transition of from being under Soviet rule to self-governing states.
has resulted in a large number of digital library projects across the country. The main problem these initiatives are running into are access and copyright laws.
Preservation (library and archival science)
Preservation is a branch of library and information science concerned with maintaining or restoring access to artifacts, documents and records through the study, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of decay and damage....
and conservation librarians. Without proper resources and training, many countries around the world struggle to maintain books and manuscripts as part of their cultural history. Environmental conditions pose perhaps the greatest threat to these materials. Political instability also endangers library and museum collections. Recent contributions are helping to address specific needs and promote the development of preservation programs.
Overview
All library collections experience damage from use and decay from the aging process. Due to a variety of economic, historic, environmental and political factors, libraries and archival repositories in developing countries face exceptional challenges in book and manuscript preservation. Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
have been identified as areas with materials having critical need for preservation. Local librarians and archivists struggle to provide access for patrons while protecting the structural integrity of materials against damage from over-use, neglect, and extreme climate conditions.
This is especially difficult as print materials in developing countries are often created using fragile, non-lasting paper product and ink. Providing information and education about preservation practices and principles is becoming an increasing focus for professionals working in countries with established practices. Beginning around 2005, efforts have been made to establish guidelines for developing countries to use in implementing preservation and conservation programs.
Efforts to improve preservation in developing countries
In August 1985, John F. DeanJohn F. Dean
John F. Dean is a special trial judge of the United States Tax Court. He was appointed to be a Special Trial Judge on August 7, 1994. Dean has the distinction of being the first African-American judicial officer appointed to the court.Dean graduated from Michigan State University with a B.S. in 1970...
became Cornell University Library
Cornell University Library
The Cornell University Library is the library system of Cornell University. In 2010 it held 8 million printed volumes in open stacks, 8.5 million microfilms and microfiches, more than of manuscripts, and close to 500,000 other materials, including motion pictures, DVDs, sound recordings, and...
's first preservation and conservation librarian. Dean's efforts have helped the Department of Preservation and Conservation at Cornell grow into one of the leading programs of its kind in the United States. Aside from his work at Cornell, Dean has made important contributions towards improving preservation efforts in developing countries. He has created online tutorials for library conservation and preservation in Southeast Asia and Iraq and the Middle East. The tutorials are designed so that librarians and archivists in these and other countries have a set of basic guidelines to refer to when dealing with preservation issues. Specific topics addressed in the tutorials include "Management and Planning," "Preservation," "Building Capacity" and "Supporting the Effort." Both tutorials are available in English; the tutorial for Iraq and the Middle East is also available in Arabic.
Puerto Rico
Munoz-Sola points out the impracticality of mounting modern environmental controls in a library to stabilize temperature and humidity in the balmy Puerto RicanPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
climate. The expense involved in creating an ideal environment in both energy and manpower would counteract positive outcomes for the condition of collections. Puerto Rico also has an additional concern with preservation: due to political instability in the past, many libraries and collections have been destroyed, which places a greater need on preserving what is left. Munoz-Sola also points out that many developing countries are in tropical climates, and thus face these problems.
Ukraine and Bulgaria
Conservators at the Ukraine V. Stefanyk Scientific Library of the National Academy of SciencesNational Academy of Science of Ukraine
The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine is the highest government research body in Ukraine and one of the six state academies. Its presidium is located at 57 Volodymyr Street, across the street from the Building of Pedagogical Museum where used to preside the Central Rada during the...
make the effort to adapt advanced preservation techniques to their home area by hiring local craftsmen to manufacture necessary tools and equipment. This library has a well-established conservation program, with staff trained at workshops in Europe.
The L’viv National University Library in Bulgaria received enough funds from their government to build a new facility to house extra collections and offices. However the new building, with its brand new heating system has caused the collections to deteriorate much more rapidly than those collections stored in the main building which has thick stone walls and a naturally occurring stable environment. These countries are coping with the transition of from being under Soviet rule to self-governing states.
India
The advancement of technology and IT professions in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
has resulted in a large number of digital library projects across the country. The main problem these initiatives are running into are access and copyright laws.
See also
- Archival scienceArchival scienceArchival science is the theory and study of storing, cataloguing, and retrieving documents and items. Archival science evolved from mankind's need to classify the world around them...
- Disaster recoveryDisaster recoveryDisaster recovery is the process, policies and procedures related to preparing for recovery or continuation of technology infrastructure critical to an organization after a natural or human-induced disaster. Disaster recovery is a subset of business continuity...
- Preservation (library and archival science)Preservation (library and archival science)Preservation is a branch of library and information science concerned with maintaining or restoring access to artifacts, documents and records through the study, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of decay and damage....
Selected bibliography
- Axer, Peter. "Conservation at the South African Library." Quarterly Bulletin of the South African Library. 51.3 (March 1997): 86-92.
- Baird, B. J. & Schaffner, B. L. "Slow fires still burn: results of a preservation assessment of libraries in L’viv, Ukraine and Sofia, Bulgaria." College & Research Libraries. 64.4 (2003): 318-330.
- Chepesiuk, Ron. Mission Possible: Two U.S. Libraries Reach Out to Muslims in Asia." American Libraries. 33.7 (August 2002): 56-58.
- College and Research Libraries News. 66.10 (November 2005): 708-709.
- Dean, John F. "Digital Imaging and Conservation: Model Guidelines" Library Trends. 52.1 (Summer 2003): 133-137.
- Dean, John F. "Conservation Essays" Library Journal. 108.19 (1 November 1983): 2036.
- Hedberg, Jane. "Web-Based Tutorial." College and Research Libraries News. 64.1 (January 2003): 40.
- Jeevan, V. K. "Digital library development: identifying sources of content for developing countries with special reference to India." International Information & Library Review. 36.3 (2004): 185-197.
- Maele, Veronica. "Africa in the Digital Age: Opportunities and Threats to the Preservation of Library and Archival Materials." S. A. Archives Journal. 43 (2003): 69-78.
- Munoz-Sola, H. "Preservation of library materials in a tropical climate. The Puerto Rican experience." Science & Technology Libraries. 7.3 (1987): 41-47.
- Ngulube, Patrick, and Lindiwe Magazi. "Protecting Documents Against Disasters and Theft: The Challenge Before the Public Libraries in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa." South African Journal of Library and Information Science. 72.3 (2006): 185-197.
External links
- Tutorials for Library Preservation and Conservation in Southeast Asia (English)http://www.librarypreservation.org/meolda/index.html
- Tutorials for Library Preservation and Conservation in Iraq and the Middle East (English)http://www.librarypreservation.org/meolda/index.html
- Tutorials for Library Preservation and Conservation in Iraq and the Middle East (Arabic) http://www.librarypreservation.org/arabic/index.html
- Cornell University Department of Preservation and Collection Maintenance http://www.library.cornell.edu/preservation/index.html