Time to think of e-library conservation

PROF NR Satyanarayana, Head of Library Science, Lucknow University, called upon the National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC) to start thinking about preservation and conservation of e-libraries and digital libraries.

PROF NR Satyanarayana, Head of Library Science, Lucknow University, called upon the National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC) to start thinking about preservation and conservation of e-libraries and digital libraries.

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Prof Satyanarayana, chief guest at the workshop ‘Care and Maintenance of Library Materials’, traced the history of library materials from clay plates to bhojpatras to paper and now e-libraries. He said NRLC should work on computer storage devices like disks, CDs, etc

The five-day workshop began on Sunday but it was formally inaugurated on Monday with a large number of libraries sending representatives for training at the workshop. Trainees from over 10 libraries from all over the country are attending the workshop.

Project Officer, Head Bio Division, NRLC, Dr Shashi Dhawan, who is head of office for this workshop introduced trainees to the NRLC and the expertise that it has in the field of conservation and preservation of cultural properties.

Trainees are being taught how light, heat, biological agents lead to different kinds of deterioration in library material. They will be given a demonstration on fumigation in the workshop and will be taught about de-acidification, stain removal and also the storage, transportation and packaging of library materials.