Staff from the National Library of South Africa led by Executive Librarian, Douwe Drijfhout shared their knowledge of preservation and book conservation, prevention of library disasters, guidelines for the recovery and salvage of flooded collections as part of the two-day training.
According to Drijfhout who is responsible for preservation services, the countrywide preservation training is sponsored through a Conditional Grant for Public and Community Libraries by the National Department of Arts and Culture (DAC).
“The DAC is a key stakeholder in the development of library infrastructure and services and the transformation of library facilities in the country,” said Drijfhout.
Participants from public libraries in Giyani, Ba-Phalaborwa, Maruleng, Greater Letaba and Tzaneen were also trained by bookbinder Dale Zietsman on how to make a wind tunnel for the drying of wet books.
For more information contact Lamese Mohamed at the National Library in Cape Town at Tel 021 487 5602 or Douwe Drijfhout at Tel 012 401 9705 at the National Library of South Africa in Pretoria.
