"This collection of articles discusses how to preserve and conserve old manuscripts for the future and will be of particular interest to research librarians. Topics include: an investigation of the use of laser in paper conservation; digitization as part of the museum preservation program; the electronic catalogue of the Manuscripts Department in the National Library of Russia: its concept, structure and use for research; and fundamental reflections on thefts and mutilation of maps from university and national libraries in Europe."

Much work is required to ensure the well-being of the manuscripts in the care of libraries, archives and other collections. The international seminars held in Copenhagen provide a good opportunity for conservators, archivists, librarians and those who work with manuscripts to meet and discuss their problems. Care and Conservation of Manuscripts 8 examines wooden bindings, the manufacture of parchment, the conservation of embroidered bindings, the study of paint layers, the restoration of heat-damage parchment, binding decoration and hand tools for Ottoman period manuscripts, biomonitoring of rare books and documents, German stamped bindings, new recipes for the conservation of leather and parchment, as well as codicology and palography. The book is well illustrated and contains references and a list of manuscripts.

Care & Conservation of Manuscripts, Volume 9 - Proceedings of the Eighth International Seminar Held at the University of Copenhagen, 14th to 15th April 2005

Proceedings of the Sixth International Seminar on the Care & Conservation of Manuscripts Held at the Royal Library, Copenhagen 19-20 October 2002.

Care & Conservation of Manuscripts 4 - Proceedings of the fourth international seminar held at the University of Copenhagen 13th-14th October 1997

Care & Conservation of Manuscripts 5 - Proceedings of the Fifth International Seminar Held at the University of Copenhagen 19-20 April 1999

Contents: R.I. Page: The research group on manuscript evidence: Some approaches and discoveries; Nicholas Hadgraft: The significance of the archaeology of the book in the context of conservation work; Søren Carlsen: aspects of documentation and conservation; Peter Springborg: The work of conservation at the Arnamagnæan Institute; Sigurgeir Steingrimsson: The care of manuscripts in the Arni Magnusson Institute in Iceland; Ögmundur Helgason: A brief account of the conservation of manuscripts and old printed books in the National Library of Iceland; Programme for the seminar; List of participants; Colour plates; Illustrations; Index of manuscript.

This volume of Care and Conservation of Manuscripts offers: discussions of the history of collection care at the National Library of Iceland * the preservation of medieval parchments at the National Archives of Sweden * the creation of a database for the administration of the manuscript library in the Prague Castle archives * and an optimized work-flow system for a large-scale condition survey of the books in the Library of the St. Catherine's Monastery in Sinai, Egypt.

The conservation of skin, leather and related materials is an area that, until now, has had little representation by the written word in book form. Marion Kite and Roy Thomson, of the Leather Conservation Centre, have prepared a text which is both authoritative and comprehensive, including contributions from the leading specialists in their fields, such as Betty Haines, Mary Lou Florian, Ester Cameron and Jim Spriggs. The book covers all aspects of Skin and Leather preservation, from Cuir Bouillie to Bookbindings. There is significant discussion of the technical and chemical elements necessary in conservation, meaning that professional conservators will find the book a vital part of their collection. As part of the Butterworth-Heinemann Black series, the book carries the stamp of approval of the leading figures in the world of Conservation and Museology, and as such it is the only publication available on the topic carrying this immediate mark of authority.

Conservation of Books is the highly anticipated reference work on global book structures and their conservation, offering the first modern, comprehensive overview on this subject. The volume takes an international approach to its subject. Written by over 70 specialists in conservation and conservation science based in 19 countries, its 26 chapters cover traditional book structures from around the world, the materials from which they are made and how they degrade, and how to preserve and conserve them. It also examines the theoretical underpinnings of conservation: what and how to treat, and the ethical, cultural, and economic implications of treatment. Technical drawings and photographs illustrate the structures and treatments examined throughout the book. Ultimately, readers gain an in-depth understanding of the materiality of books in numerous global contexts and reflect on the practical considerations involved in their analysis and treatment. Conservation of Books is a quintessential reference work for book conservators and anyone working with books, such as collection managers, librarians, curators, dealers, collectors, historians, and related professionals. It is also an indispensable text for students to complement hands-on training in this field.