1. Conservation treatment of civil registration records
VOLA NI KAWA BULA(Register of Native Landowners)iTaukei Mins.
2. BIRTH, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES Mins. Of Justice
3. TUVALU: BIRTH, DEATHS AND WILLS REGISTER

2. introduction
High temperature and humidity, together with unsafe handling techniques, poor housekeeping practice and with limited record preservation knowledge and inadequate materials, all contribute to deterioration of records.
Preservation Advices(NAF) are provided to any department seeking assistance on ways to properly safeguard records in their collection.
Conservation treatment at times has to be considered a priority. Some measures have to be carried out for better accessibility - basic measures are required to even keep pieces of a page together to allow for copying.
The condition of some records held in the custody of these three institution are in such fragile condition - the National Archives was obliged to assist in terms of treatment and training.
Old fragile folders are being replaced with acid-free folders on the right

3. Fiji’s native land commission records (vkb) (ministry of ITAUKEI affairs)
Steps taken
Site visit to assess condition of records, storage techniques, environment condition, handling etc.
Report- recommendations : better handling practices
: NAF to do conservation work
Damaged records and working copies received
Preventive Conservation advise
Conservation Treatment
The working copies were properly bound with special consideration on factors such as the ability to withstand vigorous handling and volume thickness. An original was copied onto acid-free paper due to its condition (see picture)
Original VKBs salvaged from an office fire

4. Removal of rusty metal staples from margin of damaged volumes
Cont’d : The originals were individually assessed to determine proper remedial treatment. Treatment techniques carried out include:
Removal of rusty metal staples from margin of damaged volumes
Pages flattened, cello tapes gently removed. Dog-ears straightened.
Torn edges were either mended with traditional method using special Japanese repair tissue and methyl cellulose paste or with imported Document Repair tape.
Re-sewing with Linen thread to replace metal/wire staples
Re-use of old cover if possible or construct new cover.
Return to Record creator (NLC)
Document repair tape used for mending torn edges
Cello tape removal process

5. Original before copying
Working copy printed on acid-free paper

6. Births, deaths and marriages register (bdm). Ministry of justice
Steps taken
Site visit - assess condition of records, storage techniques, environmental condition, handling etc
Report - recommendation
Preventive Conservation -
better storage techniques
good house-keeping
better environmental condition and
training of their staff in Basic Conservation of documents.
 Training of BDM staffs
Since this department have its own bindery, officers sent for training were taught special binding and re- binding techniques to preserve originals.
Theory sessions emphasizing the importance of Preventive Conservation to minimize damages.

7. Good House-keeping advice
Unsafe stacking of infested volumes

8. Tuvalu – register of births, deaths and wills
The damaged records were actually sent across to Fiji.
Project - to test how we do digitizing (DCU section)
All damaged volumes were assessed and advice given considering time allocation, availability of materials and basic equipment required for the work.
Preservation Processes undertaken include:
Appraisal – Records Admin section
Dismantle of all pages in a volume - Conservation
Digitization (for soft copy) - DCU
Photocopying (working copies) – staff & TNA
An old cover with a new gold-blocked cover of a working copy

9. Conservation Treatment -
Working copies
All working copies were properly hand-sewn with linen thread together with hard cover binding to withstand constant handling.
Conservation Treatment -
Due to the fragility of the pages and limited time, all original volumes were boxed in special archival acid-free boards.
The officer accompanying the records was encouraged to visit all sections to witness, learn and (if possible) partake in carrying out various processes.
 All these institutions were briefed on the importance of Preventive Conservation;
Good house keeping
Good storage technique
Stable environment
Proper Handling technique

10. Vinaka VAKALEVU
CONSERVATION SECTION,
NAF 2018