Theoretical and Practical Training in the Center for Preservation & Restoration
The National Library and Archives Enriches its Cultural Season with Events on the Importance of Preserving Private Archives, and Methods for Preserving Restoring National Documents
As part of its 2024 cultural season program, the National Library and Archives (NLA) organized a series of workshops and specialized training sessions on collecting and preserving private archives, as well as on the art of restoring archival materials. More than 140 participants from different entities took part in these events, aimed at raising public awareness about the importance of preserving documents in suitable conditions so they remain part of the memory of the nation. If a document shows signs of damage, it should not be discarded, but preserved, and assistance should be sought from the Center for Preservation and Restoration of the National Library and Archives. Through these events, the National Library and Archives aims to highlight its role in preserving and restoring documents that represent the memory of the nation, and to encourage future generations to acquire and develop skills in this field.
Among these events was a training workshop for school students, during which Ms. Sheikha Al Qahtani, Head of the Preservation and Restoration Section, delivered an educational lecture to the participants on the maintenance, restoration, and digitization of documents and manuscripts. She introduced them to the role that the National Library and Archives plays in preserving the memory of the nation. She then addressed the main causes of deterioration that archival materials may face if not properly preserved, the methods of document maintenance and restoration, and the role of the National Library and Archives in this field.
She also highlighted the dedicated storage facilities, specialized technical staff, and high-quality equipment that the National Library and Archives possesses for this purpose.
The practical part of the training workshop reinforced the theoretical information presented in the lecture, demonstrated restoration techniques to the students. Restoration experts supervised this part of the workshop, who introducing students to the principles of document and archive restoration along with the advanced technical equipment available for these purpose.
As part of the cultural season seminars, the NLA’s Center for Restoration and Preservation hosted a large number of employees from government entities. They attended a lecture titled: “Private Archives: Therapeutic and Preventive Preservation of Manuscripts and Documents”, delivered by Ms. Sheikha Al Qahtani, Head of Preservation and Restoration Section at the NLA, in which she emphasized the importance of private archives preserved by individuals in the community and the necessity of preserving them, as they document historical facts that enrich the memory of the nation and contribute to fostering national identity. She introduced participants to the National Library and Archives’ role in preserving the memory of the nation, the she discussed the factors that contribute to the deterioration of private documents if not properly stored, and highlighted the benefits of preserving valuable private archives at the National Library and Archives. Al Qahtani also explained the mechanisms the National Library and Archives would follow to maintain, restore, and preserve these private documents. She further briefed the participants on the specialized storage facilities, the skilled technical staff, and the state-of-the-art equipment dedicated to preserving historical documents.
The participants took a tour of the preservation and restoration laboratory, where they were introduced to the modern and advanced techniques used in restoration and the work of specialists and experts.
It is noteworthy that, in its efforts to enhance the preservation and accessibility of the memory of the nation, the National Library and Archives, in collaboration with Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, is working to academically and practically qualify young people through professional certification, as well as bachelor’s and master’s programs in document management and archival sciences.