The Preservation and Conservation (PAC) Centre hosted at the National Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been actively connecting libraries across the Central Asia. One way they promote information sharing and professional connection is through holding regular meetings and hosting master classes with colleagues from across the region.

One such meeting was held on 24 February within the framework of the School for the Preservation and Restoration of Written Documents, of the National Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and in cooperation with institutions concerned with the restoration of the region’s documentary cultural heritage.

Book restoration specialists attend a virtual master class with colleagues from across Central Asia

This meeting featured a master class on the topic, “Bukhara School of Art: production of lacquer binding”, offered by Department Head Salimov Marif and specialists of the Conservation and Restoration Service of the Abu Rayhon Beruni Institute of Oriental Studies of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Specialists from Uzbekistan gave an overview of key features of this specific type of design of Central Asian books and shared their experience with conservation and restoration of these materials. They also answered numerous questions and gave recommendations to their colleagues.

The master class was of great interest to attendees, who expressed a desire to learn the skills of the Bukhara school and continue an online dialogue with other experts in the field. The meeting was moderated by the B. S. Sarsenbayeva, PhD, Head of the Restoration, Conservation and Binding Service of the National Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan and was attended by restorers from Armenia, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Russia.

This international relationship building and knowledge exchange is at the heart of IFLA’s PAC Programme! Find out more information about PAC online here.