Volume 38, Issue 4 -

A Koran written by Mehmed Şevki is the subject of this comparative analysis. This manuscript displayed an extensive degree of deterioration in 28 of the folios, while the rest of the manuscript is in considerably better condition. The aforementioned deteriorated sections of the book proved to be brittle and much darker in colour compared to the rest of this manuscript. The possible cause for this condition was ascertained using complementary techniques including the utilisation of micro-chemical (spot) tests, SEM-EDS, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. The Micro-chemical Herzberg test indicated rag fibres in the paper used for the Koran, while the Raspail test #1 revealed rosin only in the sizing material of the deteriorated folios. SEM-EDS identified the presence of iron in all layers of the deteriorated folios but not in the stable folios. These results led subsequently to the conclusion that the deterioration of the folios was in fact related to the acid-catalysed hydrolysis due mainly to the presence of rosin and oxidation processes promoted by iron ions. This finding was also supported by FTIR analysis. The analyses indicated that different sizing materials had been used in the papermaking process of the two types of folios. In addition, Raman, EDS and HPLC techniques were also applied for the characterization of the inks and dyes. The results showed that inks and dyes were consistent throughout the entire text, thus suggesting calligrapher Mehmed Şevki and illuminator Hüseyin processed the book continually. It is plausible that calligrapher Mehmed Şevki changed his paper supply during the writing process which is why today we see a variety of differences in the condition of the papers.

Historic documents are frequently protected by placing them in a sealed polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) envelope. Although the paper is mechanically stabilized, the PET film may limit transmission of moisture or acidic degradation by-products of the paper. This creates a microenvironment for the encapsulated document. The permeation of water and acetic acid vapor through the PET film was measured to understand the microenvironment within an encapsulated enclosure. For encapsulation with a 102 μm (4 mil) PET film, the water vapor mass flux through the encapsulated film was measured. The water vapor was found to flow into or out of the PET film depending on the sample and environmental conditions. Because the encapsulated paper needed a longer time to dry than paper in open air, PET encapsulation provides a microenvironment that will buffer the encapsulated object from large swings in humidity. Acetic acid either did not diffuse through the PET, or it diffused at such a slow rate as to not be measured, due to the larger size of the acetic acid molecule than the water molecule. Keeping one edge of an encapsulation open allowed a drying rate that was four times faster than when all four sides were sealed. Because acetic acid vapor does not readily diffuse through the PET, these results reinforce the recommendations for deacidification and/or addition of buffering agents to the paper or enclosure. The results of this study point to a critical need for the investigation of new materials in conjunction with further evaluation of currently used materials.

Libraries in tropical Sri Lanka have been suffering from insect infestation for a long time. Library insect pests are observed frequently and feed on books, paper, wooden shelves or building structures and make irreversible damages to the objects. Most librarians in the country struggle with this situation and are looking for long-term solutions to protect their objects. This paper illustrates a simple strategy, which could be applied in many libraries in Sri Lanka or other countries to eradicate pests. This strategy has been composed in the light of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). It consists of four steps: “Monitoring” is a regular check, which indicates the threat to the library from pests. During the second step, “identification”, the specific pests active are detected. “Treatment” can be divided in two subcategories: “immediate treatments” focusing on nonchemical and traditional methods to eradicate pests and “late treatment” denotes conservation treatment carried out in the paper laboratory. The final step is “prevention”, which includes all activities that help blocking and repelling pests from entering the library. This paper illustrates this four-step strategy with two examples for successful control of insect and fungal outbreak and can be applied in other libraries with similar problems and a low budget.