Volume 43, Issue 4

Papermaking and printing were invented in China which developed a rich history of creating, collecting, and preserving books. The present article provides information about Chinese preservation traditions and conservation techniques developed over the last thousand years. Two key principles of preservation discussed here are minimal conservation treatment (in the absence of a skilled conservator, it is preferable not to do any work on a book, document, or painting) and utility over beauty (the goal of preservation and conservation is not solely to produce a beautiful object, but to extend the useful life of the object for as long as it can be extended). The article also looks at many Chinese conservation techniques and materials. Professionals engaged in digitizing rare books must have a basic understanding of conservation traditions and practices. The present article provides this.

This paper describes the development of the Digital Library Promotion Project (DLPP) at the National Library of China and the ways in which it has enhanced the access to cultural heritage. In May 2011, China launched the DLPP as one of a series of digital library initiatives which have been developed in recent years. By building an interconnected and distributed digital library platform and resource clusters, and providing digital cultural services in a variety of media, the DLPP enhances public library services in China. The authors found that digital projects such as the DLPP enrich social discourse and increase access to China’s cultural heritage.