Qatar National Library, in its role as the IFLA Preservation and Conservation Regional Center, held an online lecture, “Advances in Paper Deacidification: Presenting Eastern Perspectives,” on 7 March 2022. The lecture marked the inauguration of the Library’s mass deacidification plant, the first in the region.
Featuring renowned international experts in the preservation and conservation field, the lecture aimed to build awareness around the importance of paper deacidification in the preservation of documentary heritage and its different techniques, in addition to sharing experiences about the advances and challenges in the deacidification research and methods.
Commenting on the event, Stephane J. Ipert, Director of Distinctive Collections, Qatar National Library, said: “The mass deacidification plant at the Library is only one of five in the world and we are grateful we are the first institution in the region to use equipment with mass deacidification systems. Acidity is a major challenge affecting the preservation of documentary heritage. Mass deacidification allows us to control this acidity in large quantities and is a huge breakthrough on how we can preserve the Library's documentary heritage.”
“Modern technology continues to transform the field of preservation and conservation of heritage in the Arab world and has helped knowledge centers like the Library discover new ways to safeguard Arab memory and monuments for future generations,” he added.
In 2015, the Library’s Preservation and Conservation Center was selected by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) as a regional center to support the preservation of documentary heritage in the Arab region and the Middle East and has been on the path to modernize preservation and conservation. The recent renewal of the agreement between IFLA and the Library reflects the Library’s efforts to support Arab heritage preservation in the region through numerous projects and initiatives.
The Library continues to provide educational and informative sessions to promote the latest technologies and developments. To stay updated about these opportunities, please visit the Events page on the Library’s website (www.qnl.qa/en/events).
