Preservation of Middle Eastern Manuscripts - Restoration and digitalization process: what should be done first?
Leiden, 4 April 2011
Digitizing is a set of operations resulting in the production of a document in digital form. It involves a number of steps to both logistical and technical aspects, more complex according to the quantity, the diversity and the heritage values of the documents to be scanned. All these operations are based on organizational procedures and specific technical choices depending on the value and the physical condition of manuscripts.
The established plan of digitalization has to determine documents requiring a restoration before their digitalization. Indeed, the aspect of manuscripts has to allow a faithful reproduction of the image, which is not the case when the document presents deteriorations.
On the other hand, the manipulations due to the operation of digitalization contain mechanical risks for manuscripts. The noticed deteriorations can be there stressed and must be thus handled previously.
Nevertheless, it is necessary to answer to the following question: Restoration and digitalization: what should be done first?
Here you can download the detailed conference report (PDF).
Here you can download the synthetic official conference report (PDF).
Programme
9.00
Welcoming and opening: Chantal Keijsper, Head of the Special Collection in the University Library, «Introduction to the Library Special Collection and digitalization activities ».
9.15—9.45
Dr. Marie-Odette Scalliet, curator of the South-East Asian collections, « The collection of Leiden University and the project of its digitalization »
9.45-10.15
Joseph Moukarzel, « Digitalization as conservation or as diffusion process? ».
10.15-10.45 Coffee break
10.45—11.30
Zeina Grenady & Stéphane Ipert, « Legal aspects of digitalization of documents ».
11.30—12.00
Arietta Revithi, « Digitization project of the Hellenic Parliament Library ».
12.00—13.30 Lunch Break
13.30-14.15
Karin Scheper, « Examples of repairs and conservation treatments prior to digitalization».
14.15-14.45
Dr. Maurits van den Boogert, « The Brill digitization project of the Library of Leiden University ».
14.45—15.15
Nicolas Pickwoad & Athanasios Velios, «The experience of Ste-Catherine of Sinaï and the digitalization project».
15.15—15.45
Manfred Mayer, « Norms and recommendations for digitalization».
15.45—16.15
Ewa Balicka-Witakowska, « Digitization and preservation of the Ethiopian «geniza» in the church of the Four Celestial Creatures at Agwaza,Tigre ».
16.15—16.30 Coffee break
16.30-17.15
Nikolas Sarris, « Uses for the Digitization of Manuscripts in the Conservation Practice: Colour Measurements for Observing Colour Changes in Paper Conservation ».
17.15—18.00
Round panel of various short presentations from some of COMSt’s group 5 participants
- Sara Fani, The BNCF experience and project for Arabic manuscripts digitalization
- Adam Larsson, Past and Future, digitization and conservation at Uppsala University library
- Lara Sels, Ghent University
- Wido van Peursen, Pershita project Leiden
- Ira Rabin, Material analysis accompanying digitalisation
Here is the updated programme (PDF).
Workshop participants
1. Balicka Witakowska, Ewa, SE
2. Fani, Sara, IT
3. Genadry, Zeina, BE
4. Giordano, Carol, FR
5. Ipert, Stéphane, FR
6. Keijsper, Chantal, NL
7. Larsson, Adam, SE
8. Manfred, Mayer, DE
9. Moukarzel, Joseph, LB
10. Rabin, Ira, DE
11. Revithi, Arietta, GR
12. Sarris, Nikolas, GR
13. Scalliet, Marie-Odette, NL
14. Scheper, Karin, NL
15. Sels, Lara, BE
16. Van den Boogert, Maurits, NL
17. Van Peursen, Wido, NL
18. Velios, Athanasios, UK
