Conserving the Antiquarian Libraries of Arequipa

For release 19 July 2008

In cooperation with INLIBRI, a six member team from Alabama, Iowa and Texas has spent the past two weeks working with local authorities and Helen Ryan, Librarian and Director of Catalog Processing and Alvaro Meneses, Director of INLIBRI (Institute of the Book) and Bibliographer. Together the team has demonstrated methods for effective cleaning and exhibition and methods for non-damaging relocation of collections. The team has set-up a workshop and has trained local students from the esteemed Universidad Catolica de Santa Maria to continue the project in their absence. In addition, study has begun to search for those characteristics common to 17th and 18th century Peruvian book binding. Once the legacy of hand binding in Peru is better understood, it can validate local hand book crafts and book conservation in the future.

More ambitious objectives are now being discussed. The relocation of the San Francisco collection, which includes remnants of Jesuit libraries, is required immediately. The current library building has been condemned by municipal authorities due to earthquake damage. Plans are completed for the extraction, cleaning and relocation of boxed books to a secure intermediate storage during the renovation and shelving reinstallation in the new library space. The cleaning method has been tested and specified and resources needed have been assembled. A relocation proposal has been drafted. This collection relocation work should be accomplished as soon as possible.

Renovation and reinstallation of exhibits at the Recoleta will be completed and a library conservation studio established at the Recoleta as a base for both visiting and local practitioners. In addition to their vital ongoing support, The Michell Group has graciously offered to fund the installation of a new track lighting system in the Recoleta. Further work is needed to reinforce the shelving fixtures against earthquake damage. Other project objectives include planning for continuity of exchange of student teams, of adjustment or shift of activities according to local needs and authorization and funding for an on-site conservation work place.

The current two week session concluded on 18 July with a presentation at the Universidad Catolica San Pablo. A large audience of students and scholars attended to hear presentations on rare book cataloging, book conservation, and preservation of libraries in Arequipa.

Resources of INLIBRI, a non-governmental organization for the study and preservation of the book in Arequipa, and the US Universities are exceptionally complementary. INLIBRI provides local project authorization, local management continuity, expert historical and linguistic perspective and exquisite collection knowledge. The US Universities can provide preservation and conservation expertise, opportunities for advanced book studies and book arts education and materials and technology support.

The future of the physical book in a context of screen based reading is continually being questioned. An apparent momentum of interest in the historical libraries of Arequipa may be due to a rare convergence of factors occurring at this historical moment. The convergence of interest includes key personnel, key organizations and key motivations. Such a latent opportunity should not be missed since continued disregard and deterioration of the collections is also possible. Many opportunities for advance of tourism, historical preservation and devotional enthusiasm are mixed with the future of the old libraries.