Booklet Manipulation Manuscripts

Reproduction is authorized, providing that appropriate mention is made of the source, and a
copy sent to the UNESCO (Paris), address below. This document should be cited as:
© UNESCO, 2006. Cultural Heritage Protection Handbook N°2. Care and Handling of
Manuscripts UNESCO, Paris.
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Division of Cultural Heritage, African and Arab museum unit
Textes par : Antonio Mirabile
Dessins par : Beatrice Beccaro Migliorati
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Printed in 2006 by the:
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
7, place de Fontenoy, 75732 Paris 07 SP, France
© UNESCO 2006
(CLT/CH/MUS-06/18)
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(CLT/CH/MUS-06/18)
(CLT-2006/WS/15)
BOOK 2 ANG/AR:Mise en page 1 4/10/06 9:39 Page 1
INTRODUCTION
This booklet is intended for all who collect and are fond of
manuscripts, as well as those in charge of public or private collections
of manuscripts and rare books.
The principles given here concerning the preservation
of manuscripts can also be applied to printed books and bound
documents.
Certain measures concern institutions with equipment and
personnel not within the means of private individuals. However,
these recommendations constitute a sort of ideal which one should
endeavour to reach as far as possible.
UNESCO 1
OCCIDENTAL MANUSCRIT
1 Spine / Back 7 Squares 1 7

2 8 Edge 2 8
3 Cord 9 Head 3 9
4 Tail 10 Headband 4 10
5 Board 11 Shoulder 5 11
6 Fore edge 12 Guard-leaf 6 12
2 UNESCO
ARABIC MANUSCRIT
1 Flap 6 Headband/Endband 1 6
2 Upper board 7 Head 2 7
3 Decoration/Tooling 8 Lower board 3 8
4 Tail 9 Fore edge 4 9
5 Spine 10 Guard-leaf 5 10
UNESCO 3
LIBRARY AND RESERVE COLLECTION ROOMS
Stabilize air-conditioning parameters in the

library and reserve collection rooms (rela-
tive humidity between 50 and 60% and tem-
perature between 16 and 20°C).
Check air-conditioning parameters at regular

intervals.
4 UNESCO
Check that doors and windows are tightly

closed.
ment.
Use blinds, screens and shutters to protect

documents against sunlight.
UNESCO 5
Fit all openings with a grid. Use a grid with

sufficiently fine mesh to keep insects out
while not restricting airflow.
Pipes and ducts should not pass through

library and reserve rooms. Provide an
emergency evacuation plan to be applied
in the event of flooding.
6 UNESCO
Insulate“*” electrical systems, avoiding

loose wires.
Provide fire detection and fighting equipment;

define measures to be taken at outbreak of
fire.
UNESCO 7
Clean library and reserve rooms at regular

intervals. Remove dust with vacuum
cleaners fitted with total filtration, then wipe
with damp floorcloth (once a week).
Inspect reserve rooms and manuscripts at

regular intervals. Train personnel to inspect
reserve rooms and manuscripts regularly
for mould, dust, insects and rodents.
8 UNESCO
Store waste far from library.
Store manuscripts in the dark (or turn off

the lights when you leave the library).
UNESCO 9
New acquisitions”1” should be examined by a

specialist before being added to the collection.
Isolate”2” affected books to reduce risk of
general contamination.
FURNITURE
Stock the library with painted”2,3” shelves

(if possible in metal)”1”, free of cutting
edges and bulges.
10 UNESCO
FURNITURE
Spacing of shelves should be sufficient to

allow proper circulation of air.
The lower shelf should be at least 15 cm

above floor level in order to protect books
against damp and rodents.
UNESCO 11
FURNITURE
Keep a gap of at least 5 cm between shelves

and wall.
Shelves should be closed by a panel at the

top to protect documents against dust.
12 UNESCO
FURNITURE
Avoid shelves that are too high, as

manuscripts should be within easy reach.
BOOK STORAGE
Never store books or manuscripts on floor.
UNESCO 13
BOOK STORAGE
Do not store books on their fore edge or

spine. As this may place undue pressure on
spine and binding.
Do not let books protrude beyond shelf

edges. Books might be damaged by passing
trolleys or persons.
14 UNESCO
BOOK STORAGE
Store manuscripts, rare and / or deteriorated

books in suitable boxes, laying them flat.
Store books with metal parts in tailor-made

boxes specially designed for these volumes.
If stored on shelves, the metal parts are
likely to damage books stored on either
side.
UNESCO 15
BOOK STORAGE
Lay large volumes flat; stack no more than

three or four books of the same format.
Only small books in good condition may be

stood upright with book ends. Book ends
should be smooth and have large angles.
16 UNESCO
BOOK STORAGE
Do not stand small format books next to

large format. This might leave large format
books without sufficient support.
Do not tighten or space books excessively

on shelves.
UNESCO 17
BOOK STORAGE
Leaning books are inclined to bend.
Keep of at least 5 cm space between books

and the rear panel.
18 UNESCO
BOOK STORAGE
Store leather bindings separately from

paper/cardboard and cloth bindings. Tanned
and acid leather might soil paper and fabric
bindings.
HANDLING
Wash and dry hands prior to handling.

Cotton gloves are highly recommended.
UNESCO 19
HANDLING
Provide space where to lay down the books

moved.
Do not pull the books out by the head cap.

This could loosen the spine.
20 UNESCO
HANDLING
Grasp the book at centre of spine while

moving aside the volumes next to it and
slightly lifting it.
If there is sufficient space above, slide the

book towards you on its fore edge.
UNESCO 21
HANDLING
Never force a book into its shelf position.
Open the manuscript carefully. Lay the

manuscript down on a table…
22 UNESCO
HANDLING
…first open the centre pages…
…then go back to the beginning.
UNESCO 23
DUST REMOVAL
Perform dust removal”1” in a room at some

distance from library or reserve”2”.
Use a vacuum cleaner fitted with a total

filtration system, a power adjustor”*” and a
soft brush.
24 UNESCO
DUST REMOVAL
Do not use a vacuum cleaner on manuscripts

in poor condition or having fragile parts.
Begin dust removal on outside of volume

without letting it lodge in corners.
UNESCO 25
DUST REMOVAL
Remove dust from flyleaves and first and

last section of the book block using a large,
soft brush. Hold manuscript at an angle and
make dust slide down to lower edge.
Before returning manuscript to shelf, clean

the latter with a vacuum cleaner and a damp
cloth.
26 UNESCO
TRANSPORT
Transport manuscripts lying horizontally in a

box.
Carry only a limited number of manuscripts

at a time (three or four).
UNESCO 27
TRANSPORT
Heavy manuscripts should be moved by

trolley.
Use a trolley fitted with large rubber wheels.

Such wheels keep the manuscripts in a stable
position and absorb vibrations.
28 UNESCO
TRANSPORT
Make sure that manuscripts do not protrude

over side of trolley.
Never place a large volume on a smaller

one. Non-observance of this recommenda-
tion may cause the large book to fall on the
floor during transport.
UNESCO 29
TRANSPORT
For any extramural transport (into another

building), use hermetically sealing boxes.
CONSULTATION
Do not leave manuscripts in poor condition

available for consultation”*”.
30 UNESCO
CONSULTATION
Display the basic rules for handling. Provide

for surveillance of consultation room.
Wash and dry hands before handling

manuscripts.
UNESCO 31
CONSULTATION
Do not drink, eat or smoke in library or

reading room.
To consult a manuscript, lay it on a clean

table free of any object, or use a book-rest
suited to size of volume.
32 UNESCO
CONSULTATION
Open the manuscript gradually. Lay it on a

table…
… first open the centre pages…
UNESCO 33
CONSULTATION
…then go back to the beginning.
Do not place manuscripts facing a window

and do not expose to direct sunlight.
34 UNESCO
CONSULTATION
Do not stack open manuscripts.
Do not tear or cut pages.
UNESCO 35
CONSULTATION
Do not mark manuscripts in any way

whatever (paper clip, needle, post-it®, ink,
ball-point pen, correction fluid, marker) or
turn down the corner of a page, etc...
To write down notes, only pencils are

authorized.
36 UNESCO
CONSULTATION
Do not lean on manuscripts while reading

them or taking notes.
Do not touch illuminations/illustrations, or

manuscript and printed areas.
UNESCO 37
CONSULTATION
Do not photocopy manuscripts or take

pictures without the consent of the owner
or person responsible.
Close the manuscript after consultation.
38 UNESCO
DISPLAY
Check state of preservation of manuscripts

before displaying them.
If they are in good condition, you may

expose them for a maximum of one month
each year.
UNESCO 39
DISPLAY
Set the display room air conditioning

parameters (relative humidity between
50 and 60% and temperature between
16 and 20°C).
Display manuscripts in safe showcases.
40 UNESCO
DISPLAY
Fit showcase panes”3” with anticaloric”2”

and UV”1” filters.
Place light source outside showcase.
UNESCO 41
DISPLAY
The intensity of the light shall be limited to

50 Lux.
Display manuscripts on book-rests made

of or lined with neutral cardboard.
42 UNESCO
DISPLAY
The manuscript should be held open by

polyester ribbons adapted to the profile of
the manuscript.
The opening angle shall not exceed 120°

and the tilting angle, with respect to the
horizontal plane, shall not exceed 20°.
UNESCO 43

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Reproduction is authorized, providing that appropriate mention is made of the source, and a

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1 Spine / Back 7 Squares 1 7

LIBRARY AND RESERVE COLLECTION ROOMS

Stabilize air-conditioning parameters in the

Check air-conditioning parameters at regular

LIBRARY AND RESERVE COLLECTION ROOMS

Check that doors and windows are tightly

Use blinds, screens and shutters to protect

LIBRARY AND RESERVE COLLECTION ROOMS

Fit all openings with a grid. Use a grid with

Pipes and ducts should not pass through

LIBRARY AND RESERVE COLLECTION ROOMS

Insulate“*” electrical systems, avoiding

Provide fire detection and fighting equipment;

LIBRARY AND RESERVE COLLECTION ROOMS

Clean library and reserve rooms at regular

Inspect reserve rooms and manuscripts at

LIBRARY AND RESERVE COLLECTION ROOMS

Store waste far from library.

Store manuscripts in the dark (or turn off

LIBRARY AND RESERVE COLLECTION ROOMS

New acquisitions”1” should be examined by a

Stock the library with painted”2,3” shelves

Spacing of shelves should be sufficient to

The lower shelf should be at least 15 cm

Keep a gap of at least 5 cm between shelves

Shelves should be closed by a panel at the

Avoid shelves that are too high, as

Never store books or manuscripts on floor.

Do not store books on their fore edge or

Do not let books protrude beyond shelf

Store manuscripts, rare and / or deteriorated

Store books with metal parts in tailor-made

Lay large volumes flat; stack no more than

Only small books in good condition may be

Do not stand small format books next to

Do not tighten or space books excessively

Leaning books are inclined to bend.

Keep of at least 5 cm space between books

Store leather bindings separately from

Wash and dry hands prior to handling.

Provide space where to lay down the books

Do not pull the books out by the head cap.

Grasp the book at centre of spine while

If there is sufficient space above, slide the

Never force a book into its shelf position.

Open the manuscript carefully. Lay the

…first open the centre pages…

…then go back to the beginning.

Perform dust removal”1” in a room at some

Use a vacuum cleaner fitted with a total

Do not use a vacuum cleaner on manuscripts

Begin dust removal on outside of volume

Remove dust from flyleaves and first and

Before returning manuscript to shelf, clean

Transport manuscripts lying horizontally in a

Carry only a limited number of manuscripts

Heavy manuscripts should be moved by

Use a trolley fitted with large rubber wheels.

Make sure that manuscripts do not protrude

Never place a large volume on a smaller

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