How UAE restores its priceless books

NATIONAL ARCHIVES SPECIALIST DEMONSTRATES METICULOUS PROCESS AT SHARJAH BOOK FAIR

- BY ASHWANI KUMAR

At the Sharjah International Book Fair, visitors watch in awe as Shaima Alameri, Restoration Specialist at the National Library and Archives (NLA) in Abu Dhabi, delicately inserts a thin piece of Japanese paper into an ancient book.

It’s a live demonstration of how the UAE safeguards centuries-old manuscripts and rare publications a meticulous process that can take anywhere from a few weeks to six months.

“Whenever we receive a request for restoration or preservation, the first step is assessment,” Shaima said. “We carefully examine the condition of the book or manuscript to understand the type and extent of damage — whether it’s due to insects, fungus, stains or tears.”

The National Library and Archives preserves a wide-ranging collection of rare books, manuscripts, and publications documenting the nation’s history, culture and development.