The Public Library of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) collaborated with the National Library of China (National Center for Conservation and Preservation of Ancient Books) to launch an online “Theoretical Course on the Conservation and Restoration of Ancient Books” in April. The joint course consisted of seven units divided into four days, with a total of 40 participants. The course topics covered the history of the restoration of ancient books, the elements and structure of Western books, the causes of damage and basic restoration methods, restoration principles, the construction of literature restoration rooms, as well as the characteristics of ancient book paper. The lecturers are all experts in ancient book preservation from the National Library of China. In this issue, the Director of the Office of the National Center for Conservation and Preservation of Ancient Books Wang Honglei, who is responsible for the course design, and a nationally renowned expert in the restoration of ancient books Du Weisheng are invited to introduce to participants the meaning of the course design and the significance of the restoration of ancient books.
Wang Honglei said that the restoration of ancient books is an important task in the conservation of cultural heritage, and paper is the carrier of cultural heritage for thousands of years. As such, the theme of the “Theoretical Course on the Conservation and Restoration of Ancient Books” is to combine theories in the restoration of Chinese and Western ancient books and provide the latest restoration technologies. In addition to introducing the historical development of ancient book restoration and the current practice of restoring ancient books to students, this course also provides a more in-depth case study on how the authenticity of various damaged ancient books could be conserved and further explores with the students the current conditions of existing ancient books in Macao, such as deterioration, mold erosion, insect infestation, and damage by fire. Wang Honglei believes that more courses that conform to local characteristics will inevitably enable all sectors of Macao to understand the history and principles, restoration techniques, and construction characteristics of ancient book restoration, making continual contributions to the conservation of cultural heritage and the inheritance of cultural essence.
On the other hand, an expert in ancient book restoration Du Weisheng stressed that, in addition to continuing to devote himself to restoration work, he placed greater emphasis on cultivating talents. A survey at the beginning of the 21st century showed that there were less than 100 ancient book restorers nationwide. In 2007, China established the “National Center for Conservation and Preservation of Ancient Books”, which made the conservation work of ancient books become something new. Nowadays, young restorers account for half of the team in the literature restoration room. This course not only enables students to develop a deep understanding of the restoration work of major national projects but also makes them acknowledge the great importance attached by the country to talent cultivation, allowing more aspiring individuals to participate in this grand national conservation initiative.
The successful holding of this course not only marks the important collaboration between IC of Macao and the National Library of China in knowledge inheritance but also provides a better learning platform for restoration practitioners in Macao. The knowledge and content of the course are professional and in-depth, providing a valuable learning resource for practitioners related to the conservation and preservation of ancient books.
The Public Library of the Cultural Affairs Bureau collaborates with the National Library of China (National Center for Conservation and Preservation of Ancient Books) to launch an online “Theoretical Course on the Conservation and Restoration of Ancient Books”.
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Director of the Office of the National Center for Conservation and Preservation of Ancient Books Wang Honglei.
A nationally renowned expert in the restoration of ancient books, Du Weisheng.
