Protection of Publications

Preventive protection of library and archival materials and their complete conservation and restoration are performed in laboratories of the Department of Preservation and Conservation. Rare manuscripts, old and rare books, and periodicals have been microfilmed and digitized for protection. The protection also includes bookbinding, repairing and mending, as well as the production of protective cases, book jackets, and covers. Restoration Laboratory was founded in 1949, and the Department of Preservation and Conservation in 1954. Today, the Matica Srpska Library is the central institution performing preventive protection of old and rare books in Vojvodina. 

Technical protection of cultural goods includes the assessment of their status and the degree of damage, necessary analyses and the selection of protective measures, checking the already used methods and materials and testing new ones, making documentation on the applied procedures, preventive protection and conservation of old and rare books, manuscripts and printed publications, pictures, graphics, maps, plans, and other library and archive materials, restoration of paper sheets, bindings and missing parts according to the representative copies or the existing originals. More than 20,000 damaged pages are conserved and restored every year.

Preservation microfilming and digitization of old and rare books are performed in the laboratory for microreproduction, digitization, and photography. Besides the reparation of old or damaged microfilms and their digitization, there is also quality control of the existing microforms. Digital recordings are recorded and processed following the most diverse requirements of the Library users – for scientific and professional work, for reproductions, copies, presentations, and facsimile editions, as well as for public exhibitions and internet presentations. Before, during, and after the implementation of conservation and restoration measures, the extremely sensitive imaging of endangered cultural goods is performed for conservation records. All publications published by the first half of the 19th century have been microfilmed.

At the bookbindery, books and periodicals are bound and rebound, damaged copies are repaired and various protective boxes, folders, and covers are made. Materials for exhibitions are laminated, gilded letters are printed, duplicate publications are bound, and other bookbinding and cardboard works are performed.