Digital Preservation

Preservation and Conservation of Preservation and Conservation of ManuscriptsManuscripts

NEHA KALRANEHA KALRAStudentStudentDept.of Library and Information ScienceDept.of Library and Information ScienceP.U., ChandigarhP.U., Chandigarh

IntroductionIntroduction

India has largest collection of manuscripts in India has largest collection of manuscripts in world.world.

These are available in different languages and These are available in different languages and scripts.scripts.

Written on variety of forms like palm, Written on variety of forms like palm, bamboo, cloth etc.bamboo, cloth etc.

In nutshell manuscripts represents broad area In nutshell manuscripts represents broad area of Indian culture.of Indian culture.

Cultural HeritageCultural Heritage

So, what can be done to preserve our national So, what can be done to preserve our national heritage?heritage?

Preservation and conservation of such precious Preservation and conservation of such precious documents are to be taken care of.documents are to be taken care of.

Manuscript Manuscript ??

It is a hand written composition on paper, It is a hand written composition on paper, cloth, metal, palm leaf and so on.cloth, metal, palm leaf and so on.

In context of library science, it may be defined In context of library science, it may be defined as hand written item in the collections of a as hand written item in the collections of a library or an archive. library or an archive.

Indian InitiativesIndian Initiatives

The two agencies which taking care for The two agencies which taking care for preserving and making awareness among preserving and making awareness among students about manuscripts arestudents about manuscripts are

National Mission for Manuscripts National Mission for Manuscripts National Archives of IndiaNational Archives of India

National Mission for ManuscriptsNational Mission for Manuscripts

The project was launched in February 2003 by The project was launched in February 2003 by Ministry of Culture, Government of IndiaMinistry of Culture, Government of India

It aims to protect the valuable cultural It aims to protect the valuable cultural inheritance of India’s manuscript.inheritance of India’s manuscript.

Works with MRCs and MCCs in all over the Works with MRCs and MCCs in all over the country.country.

Collects data on manuscripts from various Collects data on manuscripts from various places.places.

Objectives & StrategiesObjectives & Strategies

Survey and LocateSurvey and Locate Catalogue and Catalogue and

Compile Compile Conserve and Conserve and

Preserve Preserve Promote Access Promote Access Promote Scholarship Promote Scholarship Public Outreach Public Outreach

The NetworkThe Network The Approach The Approach Conservation Conservation Outreach Outreach Publication Publication

Digitization ProcessDigitization Process

Identification of the items for the collection Identification of the items for the collection Selection of the 'kind' of content Selection of the 'kind' of content Choice of Formats Choice of Formats Choice of Hardware Choice of Hardware Choice of Software Choice of Software Selection of Medium Selection of Medium Storage and Archiving Management Storage and Archiving Management

National Archives of IndiaNational Archives of India

It is a repository of non-current records of It is a repository of non-current records of Government of India.Government of India.

Attached to department of culture under Attached to department of culture under ministry and culture.ministry and culture.

Was set up in 1891 in Calcutta as Imperial Was set up in 1891 in Calcutta as Imperial Record Department.Record Department.

And from 1911 its office is in New Delhi.And from 1911 its office is in New Delhi.

Educational ProgrammesEducational Programmes

National archives of India is undertaking many National archives of India is undertaking many training programs for awareness among training programs for awareness among students such asstudents such as

Diploma courses offered by it aims to train Diploma courses offered by it aims to train students in various archival disciplines.students in various archival disciplines.

Short term courses are also offered to make Short term courses are also offered to make trainees aware of acquisition, arrangement and trainees aware of acquisition, arrangement and retrieval of records in archives.retrieval of records in archives.

Digital StrategyDigital Strategy

Refreshing: it is transfer of data between two Refreshing: it is transfer of data between two similar types of storage medium so that there similar types of storage medium so that there is no change in data.is no change in data.

Migration: transfer of data to new system Migration: transfer of data to new system environments.environments.

Replication: creating duplicate copies of data Replication: creating duplicate copies of data on more than one system.on more than one system.

Emulation: it is a strategy for retaining old Emulation: it is a strategy for retaining old video game systems.video game systems.

Metadata attachment: it is data on a digital file.Metadata attachment: it is data on a digital file.

Archival Section A.C Joshi LibraryArchival Section A.C Joshi LibraryPanjab University, ChandigarhPanjab University, Chandigarh

It contains two kinds of holdings i.e. It contains two kinds of holdings i.e. manuscripts and rare books.manuscripts and rare books.

Total number of manuscripts is 1492 which Total number of manuscripts is 1492 which are in various languages like Hindi, Urdu, are in various languages like Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit.Sanskrit.

Rare books being another category are 20,000 Rare books being another category are 20,000 in number starting from 1634 A.D.in number starting from 1634 A.D.

Themes coveredThemes covered

Mutiny records.Mutiny records. Reports on the results of scientific voyagesReports on the results of scientific voyages Atlases, Imperial Gazetteer of India.Atlases, Imperial Gazetteer of India. Books on art, architecture and painting.Books on art, architecture and painting. Biographies, factory records, religious Biographies, factory records, religious

literature.literature. Books written by medieval writers and Books written by medieval writers and

travelers and many more.travelers and many more.

Preservation & Conservation ?Preservation & Conservation ?

Preservation and conservation are used Preservation and conservation are used interchangeably.interchangeably.

Preservation is a process which retain the Preservation is a process which retain the longevity of documents.longevity of documents.

But conservation is treatment done for But conservation is treatment done for preservation of artistic material.preservation of artistic material.

Preservation ProblemsPreservation Problems

Libraries face number of preservation problems Libraries face number of preservation problems likelike

Adverse environment conditionsAdverse environment conditions Temperature and humidityTemperature and humidity LightLight Biological pestsBiological pests InsectsInsects

Methods of PreservationMethods of Preservation

Heat treatment: Fumigation is done to the out Heat treatment: Fumigation is done to the out dated books to kill insects on the documents.dated books to kill insects on the documents.

Acid test: In this acidity or quality of the paper Acid test: In this acidity or quality of the paper is determined.is determined.

Digital preservation: In this method pixels are Digital preservation: In this method pixels are used for preservation and finally copying, used for preservation and finally copying, scanning of image is send to the computer.scanning of image is send to the computer.

ConclusionConclusion

Manuscripts are life and blood of our cultural Manuscripts are life and blood of our cultural heritage. So, we should not only found the heritage. So, we should not only found the ways to locate, catalogue and preserve these ways to locate, catalogue and preserve these but also enhance access and spread awareness but also enhance access and spread awareness about it.about it.

THANK YOUTHANK YOU