King Abdulaziz Public Library restores over 10,000 cultural heritage items

The restoration and conservation center at King Abdulaziz Public Library has achieved a new milestone, having restored and treated more than 10,861 items from the library’s collections. These include historical photographs, documents, maps, rare books, manuscripts, newspapers, and periodicals, using the latest scientific and professional methods in restoration, treatment, sterilization, and preventive maintenance. The efforts aim to preserve these items, extend their lifespan, and ensure their sustainability for future generations.

The center’s work has included the restoration of a collection of rare historical photographs documenting the Two Holy Mosques and the surrounding areas, highlighting their historical and architectural development. It also restored images of Arabian horses and private stables belonging to several Saudi kings and princes, reflecting the significant historical and national value of these photographs in documenting important aspects of the Kingdom’s history and heritage.

The center also restored a set of historical photographs of Taif, documenting its landmarks, buildings, and aspects of its social and urban life across different periods. This helps preserve the city’s visual memory and makes it accessible to researchers and enthusiasts.

In the field of historical newspapers and periodicals, the center treated and restored a number of rare items, most notably a special issue of Al-Riyadh newspaper titled "Riyadh: Past and Present." The pages were treated, restored, and reinforced while maintaining the newspaper’s original appearance.

The center’s work also included issue number 14 of Sawt Al-Sharq magazine, published in Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1373 AH (1953), a special edition on Saudi Arabia during the reign of King Saud. Additionally, issue number 960 of Al-Khawatir newspaper, published on 17 Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1395 AH (March 29, 1975), which featured special coverage of the death of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz, was restored.

These periodicals underwent specialized scientific procedures, including cleaning, treatment, restoration, and reinforcement, to preserve their original papers and limit further deterioration, while maintaining their historical identity and appearance.

In the field of maps, the center completed the treatment and restoration of thousands of rare historical maps, including a map of the Arabian Peninsula dating back to 1771, printed in 1789 using copper engraving techniques.

The map covers a wide area of the Arabian Peninsula and displays its classic three divisions: Arabia Felix, Arabia Deserta, and Arabia Petraea. It also features geographical information about several locations and cities such as Diriyah, Rimah, Al-Mithnab, Al-Houta, and Abu Arish, along with artistic elements like a decorative title frame and botanical illustrations.

The restoration and conservation center places special emphasis on sterilization, considering it an essential stage that cannot be omitted before starting treatment and restoration procedures.

Sterilization is carried out according to carefully studied procedures tailored to the nature and condition of each item, ensuring the safety of staff and protecting the collections from the spread of damaging agents, without causing harm to their original components.

As part of its educational and training role, the center has begun organizing specialized workshops and training courses in restoration, treatment, sterilization, preventive maintenance, and the preservation of cultural collections.

These programs are offered individually or in groups, tailored to the needs of trainees and beneficiary organizations, and aim to transfer professional expertise and promote awareness of best scientific practices in cultural heritage preservation.

Among the center’s notable achievements is its ongoing acceptance of external service requests from individuals, government agencies, and private entities. The center examines and assesses the condition of items and carries out necessary sterilization, treatment, or restoration work according to the nature and degree of deterioration of each item.

The continuation of these services reflects King Abdulaziz Public Library’s commitment to serving the community, preserving items of historical and intellectual value, and enhancing cooperation with individuals and institutions in the protection of cultural and documentary heritage.

The restoration and conservation center at King Abdulaziz Public Library continues its mission to safeguard cultural heritage by combining restoration, treatment, sterilization, and preventive maintenance, implementing specialized training programs, and providing technical services to individuals and organizations, thereby contributing to the protection and preservation of cultural collections for future generations.