Preventive Conservation of Manuscripts

Objectives

Trained conservators will give instruction on the proper handling of manuscripts to cataloguers, conservation staff, library workers and all those who regularly consult manuscripts for their research.

Themes

The following topics will be covered: history of conservation, factors of deterioration, preventive and interventive conservation, control measures, study of materials of manuscripts and conservation materials, disaster management, storage, transportation, practical on preventive conservation, acidity measurements, environmental factors, treatment of manuscripts.

There will be a one-day session on paper manuscripts at the IFP and a session on palm-leaf MSS at EFEO. Demonstrations and hands-on practical work are envisaged. On each day, the programme will run from 9.30 am to 5.30pm, with a break for lunch.

Coorganised by

• the Madras Government Museum Manuscript Conservation Centre (MCC),
• the French Institute of Pondicherry (IFP)
• the Pondicherry Centre of the Ecole française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO or "French School of Asian Studies")

Resource Persons

• Dr. V. Jeyaraj, Curator, Chemical Conservation and Research Laboratory
• Mr. R. Balasubramanian, Government Museum, Chennai
• Dr. P. Perumal, Thanjavur Maharaja Serfoji Saraswathi Mahal Library, Thanjavur

Participants

Staff members and researchers who handle manuscripts from the IFP, EFEO, Pondicherry University and Sri Aurobindo Ashram Library, Pondicherry (around 25 members).

Medium of Instructions and Certificates

English will be the medium of instructions. Certificates of participation will be awarded to those who have actively participated in the workshop.

Venue

The workshop will take place on 22nd in the premises of the IFP (11, St Louis Street, Pondicherry) and on 23rd in the premises of the Pondicherry Centre of the EFEO (19, Dumas Street, Pondicherry).

Boarding and Lodging

Working lunch and tea/coffee will be supplied to the participants for the two days, but no accommodation or transportation charges.