The Conservation and communication of printed documents and manuscripts of the Bibliothèque nationale (Sablé, Centre Joël Le Theule)

The installation in the castle of Sablé (Sarthe) of a centre specialized in treating printed documents and manuscripts is one element of the safeguard plan of the Bibliothèque nationale collections which started in 1979. The Centre is commissioned to treat in priority the documents of 19th and 20th centuries printed on wood pulp paper that rapidly fall into disrepair. The activities are organized into three departments : microphotographic reproduction laboratory, chemical laboratory (deacidification and desinfection) and book binding and restauration workshop. The Centre is also specialized in the technics of conservation and in particular it produces waxes for protecting the leather bindings
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