“Preserving your Documentary Heritage” was the theme of the workshop conducted by Danielle Fraser, NALIS’ Conservation Librarian, at this year’s NGC BOCAS Lit Fest on April 25, at the National Library of Trinidad and Tobago, Port of Spain.

The workshop, which was open to the public, aimed to provide participants with practical advice on preserving paper-based materials, such as valuable manuscripts, books, letters, certificates, photographs and ephemera.

With an emphasis on long-term preservation, topics covered included Identifying and Combating Agents of Deterioration; Care and Handling Techniques; Protective Enclosures and Storage Conditions; and Simple Preservation Techniques.  The workshop ended with a tour of the NALIS Preservation and Conservation Laboratory (PAC Lab), located at the basement level of the National Library.

The NALIS PAC Lab was officially commissioned in 2013 and is responsible for ensuring the overall longevity of library materials, with specific attention to the local and regional historic collections of the Heritage Library Division. The Lab also advises public and private organisations on the care of their collections and artefacts.