As part of strengthening cultural cooperation between the Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage in Dubai and the Matandaran Center for the Preservation of Manuscripts, Documents, and Records in the Republic of Armenia, Dr. Bassam Daghestani, Head of the Preservation, Treatment, and Restoration Department, represented the Center at the Second International Symposium, “Faces of Memory: The Latest Technologies for the Preservation and Restoration of Manuscripts and Printed Heritage,” held from April 28 to May 6, 2026, in Yerevan.
During the symposium, Dr. Bassam presented a paper entitled “The Treatment and Restoration of Rare Books Damaged by Fire,” highlighting the significant importance of this topic for libraries and archives worldwide, given the real threat such damage poses to global heritage. He also discussed the importance of rare books and the necessity of preserving them due to their immense scientific and cultural value, addressing the causes of their damage and the sound scientific methods for their treatment and restoration. He also discussed the scientific and practical experience of the Juma Al Majid Center in dealing with this type of damage, showcasing the innovative methods employed in the center’s restoration department. This was widely appreciated by the participants for the research’s precision and the quality of its results.
As part of the symposium’s activities, Dr. Bassam presented two practical workshops for the participants. The first focused on the art of Arabic-Islamic manuscript binding across ten centuries. He demonstrated the binding process practically on an original manuscript from the Matendran Center’s collection, explaining the materials used and the techniques employed.
The second workshop was a training session on the restoration of manuscripts and historical documents, targeting staff in the restoration department. It addressed several challenges faced by the technical team during the restoration process. The workshop contributed to enhancing the staff’s skills and introducing them to new and innovative methods in this field, yielding positive results.
The symposium was attended by the Armenian Minister of Culture, the European Union representative, the UNESCO representative, and a representative of the ALEEF Foundation, along with a number of local and international cultural and scientific figures, accredited ambassadors, and the Matandaran Center’s administration.
It is worth noting that the symposium featured the participation of researchers and specialists from European, American, and Arab countries, who presented papers addressing the preservation, treatment, and restoration of various types of paper materials, including manuscripts and printed books.
