Preventing deterioration of library resources
Cataloguing and providing access to collections is a key responsibility of Germany’s specialist national libraries ‒ but equally important is the preservation of historical materials. ZB MED holds an extensive collection of medical and agricultural literature dating from 1850 to 1970. Many books and journals from this period are highly fragile: the paper on which they were printed is decaying due to its acidic content, and the only way to keep them usable and accessible for future generations is through a process of deacidification.
The problem faced by many libraries is that deacidification is both costly and complex. The aim of this externally-funded project is to help ZB MED preserve valuable holdings that are at particular risk of decay, such as the Hoffmann Collection and historical materials from the former Rhineland Chamber of Agriculture.
The Hoffmann Collection originates from the private library of Erich Hoffmann, a scientist and physician who, in 1905, together with Fritz Schaudinn, discovered the bacterium Treponema pallidum, identifying it as the cause of syphilis. Hoffmann’s extensive collection of medical literature includes handwritten annotations that offer a unique glimpse into his work. ZB MED's holdings also contain notes, letters and early drafts of his essays, providing valuable perspectives on his methods and thought processes.
The collection from the former Rhineland Chamber of Agriculture features agricultural journals dating back as far as 150 years. These materials provide unparalleled insights into the state of farming in German-speaking regions before, during and after the Second World War.
Duration
- 2025 - 2026
Funding body
- Landesinitiative Substanzerhalt (LISE), an initiative launched by the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia to support the preservation of archival materials
Partners
- Zentrum für Bucherhaltung, a Leipzig-based company specialising in the preservation and restoration of books and other materials.
