The RCMC is one of the
prominent scientific research centres affiliated to the National Library and
Archives of Egypt which is responsible for ensuring safe preservation of the
cultural legacy, whether manuscripts or rare publications, by providing the
protective conditions required for conserving thereof in the libraries, museums
and storage areas.
The RCMC is
comprising the following:
1.
Investigation Area,
including : chemical, pollution, natural measures, microorganisms,
pests laboratories, with a view to conducting studies aiming at determining a
precise diagnosis of the case in question as well as to determine the most
proper means and precautions required for the protection and treatment.
2.
Restoration Area,
comprising a Disinfecting Unit, provided with rooms for
extracting the gases required for disinfecting the collections damaged or
injured by fungi, bacteria and inborn germs. It also includes Treatment Units
for the manuscripts and publications damaged due to the process of time.
3.
Binding Area, besides new
binding it is responsible for the restoration of leather covers of the
manuscripts that are chemically treated and return thereof to the original
manuscripts.
4.
Microphotography Area,
comprising a Camera Room, Laboratory Division, Photo- copying Division and
Photography Studio.
5.
Specialized Library,
including books and references in the field of the restoration and
conservation for the use of the Centre's staff members.
Protection
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The restoration and
preservation of the NL.'s holdings are the responsibilities of the RCMC.
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Protection is better
than remedy. The Centre will spare no effort so as to lessen as far as
possible the negative effects of the surrounding environment, whether they
are biological chemical or natural gases.
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One of the best
methods to ensure the safe environment required for the preservation and
conservation of the holdings is to lessen humidity, protecting the NLA's
premises from dust resulting from heavy traffic, to control temperature and
ensure good air circulation throughout the storage area.
- Engineering procedures in connection
with the operation of the central air-conditioning system, previously
installed years ago, have taken place and the system will be operated within
the framework of the NLA's Development Project started in 1994.
Conservation
A wide
variety of the holdings requires special care. Hence, a detailed investigation
data in connection with the conditions of such collections is required so as to
avoid any damage thereof, protect them from any threatening causal or
environmental agents and restoring thereof as far as possible and in ways
sympathetic to the originals physically and functionally.
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Data in connection
with the premises preservation and storage areas of such legacy in terms of
controlling temperature, humidity and light, alongside with the precautions
adopted for fire, theft
and natural disaster so as to get acquainted with the climate surrounding
the collection. The most appropriate rate to preserve books in the tropical
regions ranges of 45-55% and a suitable compromise can be found in the
temperature range of 16 C-21 C.
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The shelving of
library materials is of great importance in connection with its
preservation. Books should be shelved according to its size, thickness and
kind of cover.
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Precise examination of
the collection should be made and the data of each book should be written in
a certain case study form which should be used in establishing the
priorities of treatment and determining the causes of damage arising from
the accommodation or storage areas and the surrounding environment.
Treatment
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After conducting a
precise laboratory check and determining that a certain collection should be
treated, such a collection must be separated from other collections and the
data of each manuscript thereof must be written on a specific card.
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Chemical analysis
shall be conducted to determine whether damage in worn out covers and
polluted books is chemical or biological, or, merely arising from
mishandling such as finger prints and dust which can be easily removed.
Noting that indepth damage of fibres cannot be easily removed.
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Such data and remarks
must be written on the said
form, also denoting whether damage is casual or spread all over the books.
The centre of Restoration, Maintenance Research was established
by in 1975 with a view to protecting and treating books and manuscripts against
damages caused by pests, rodents and fungi.
It offers its services and technical advice in the field of
library pest control and manuscript and document restoration to universities,
institutions and museums.
It also undertakes pestcontrol and disnifection works in
libraries, museums and all sites of national heritage.
All restoration and maintenance works are conducted on modern scientific
basis, as the centre includes a numbers of specialized technical
1. Restoration Department
It includes restoration and book binding laboratories
Centre restores and binds documents, ancient manuscripts,
and rare publications to restore them to their original condition
2. Pest control Department
It include Entomological, insecticide and microbiological
laboratories Damages caused by all kinds of roodents, insects and fungi
are examined and treated their according to recent scientific methods
without damaging the general health nor books under treatment.
3. Treatment Department
Includes laboratories of chemical treatments and physical.
It undertake the treatment of manuscripts, rare books, and
documents from age caused damages such as removal of stains, ink
Fixation, deacidification.. etc .
4. Microfilm Department
It undertakes microfilming valuable, ancient quisations,
which contributes to their promotion which preserving the original works.
The departments are staffed with high level
technically trained personal, under the supervision of a well picked
groups of professors from the National centre for re seach and some
universities.
