Twenty library workers from various public libraries in the Free State recently attended a two-day workshop where they received training in library disaster planning, recovery operations and basic book repairs from retired paper and book conservator Johann Maree and events manager Jenny Raatz. Ozzie Cupido and Beryl Williams of the national library in Cape Town assisted the team.
The preservation workshop, which took place in Bloemfontein on 13 and 14 August at the Free State Provincial Library Services Building, was part of the national library’s skills development initiative under the conditional grant of the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC).
The trainees found the workshop very worthwhile. Everyone agreed that a follow-up workshop was needed and that other library workers in the province should also receive this valuable training.
One delegate observed, “Frankie Frederiksen, the Namibian 100 meter sprinter once said there’s no substitute for experience. What an experience it was to be trained by two of the country’s six restorers. In a practical, professional way they solved our problems. Problems were solved before our eyes. We never gave it a thought that the greatest enemies in a library are not the borrowers, but the dirt and dust. Good housekeeping solves so many problems and even helps to prevent disasters. Gone are the days of ice-cream sticks and wood glue to fix books!”
Another attendee said, “Libraries have many books that need to be repaired. We will save many books for our libraries!” The national library provided training materials as well as toolkits for book repairs. The library workers are now fully prepared to restore all books needing attention!
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture, Free State Provincial Government
15 August 2009
Source: Department of Arts and Culture, Free State Provincial Government
(http://www.sac.fs.gov.za/)
