The Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage in Dubai took part in the “Preserving pages of the Past” event on Thursday, May 29, 2025. The initiative was organized by Sharjah Public Libraries at the Sharjah Archaeology Museum—part of the Sharjah Museums Authority—marking the centennial celebration of Sharjah’s public libraries.
The event opened with a lecture by Dr. Bassam Dagestani, Head of the Preservation, Treatment, and Restoration Department at the Juma Al Majid Center, moderated by Ms. Shaikha Al Mutairi, Head of the National Culture and Public Relations & Media Departments. Dr. Dagestani highlighted the environmental challenges facing books and manuscripts due to improper storage, exposing them to biological and natural factors such as humidity, temperature fluctuations, light, insects, and fungi.
His lecture detailed the meticulous stages of the restoration process, beginning with inspection and sterilization, followed by dry cleaning, chemical treatments to neutralize paper acidity, and concluding with manual restoration using material-matching techniques. He also discussed the role of mechanical restoration technologies, which have revolutionized conservation methods—though their application to manuscripts remains limited. The lecture concluded with an explanation of the “preservation triad” for post-restoration care: digitization, rebinding, and scientifically controlled storage.
The Center also hosted two hands-on workshops: the first focused on restoring damaged paper using manual tools, while the second offered a traditional bookbinding experience. Participants learned each step of the bookbinding process, including edge alignment and structural preservation.
The event attracted significant interest from academics, students, cultural enthusiasts, and the general public, all of whom expressed appreciation for the initiative’s role in reconnecting the community with its written heritage and traditions of preservation.
