1. Conservation of Palm Leaf Manuscripts By: Erika Ichihara LIS 620

2. Overview  Background Information  Factors and Consequences of Deterioration  Procedures for Conservation  Removing Insects  Removing Surface Soil  Repairing Mechanical Damage  Oiling

3. Review of Palm Leaf Manuscripts  Produced from dried palm leaves  South Asia and Southeast Asia Preparing palm-leaves in southwest China

4. Factors of Deterioration  Physical Factors/Climate  Biological Factors  Chemical Factors  Human Factors

5. Consequences of Deterioration  Discoloration  Damage by insects  Fungal effect  Splitting of the surface layer  Fading of writing  Brittleness and weakening of the leaves Insect Damage

6. Procedures for Conservation  Clean soiled surfaces  Strengthen image  Support damaged areas  Impart flexibility  Reduce further insect damage

7. Removing Insects  Kill all insects infesting manuscripts  Freeze, mothballs containing para- dichlorobenzene or naphthalene  Placed in airtight container  Gently brush with soft brush to remove dust and insect parts

8. Removing Surface Soil  Dry Cleaning (soft brush and erasers)  Cleaning and Hydrating  Old, Dried Oil  Soak in non-bleach detergent and warm water  Ethyl alcohol

9. Repairing Mechanical Damage  Use Japanese-type tissue with PVA and methyl cellulose  Similar to mending  Paper should be thinner than the palm leaf

10. Oiling  Neem (maragosa) Oil  Insect repellent too!  Lightly apply with soft brush  Air-dry to avoid molding  May use lampblack to improve clarity of writing

11. After finishing with these repairs…  Polish with soft dry cloth, restring with cord, case, and box, together with a small amount of insect repellant

12. Bibliography  ChinaA2Z. "Dai people create "civilization on palm leaves"." Available from http://news.chinaa2z.com/news/html/2009/20090417/20090417093336200316/ 20090417093838783608.html. Accessed 30 April 2011.  Cornell University Library: Department of Preservation and Conservation. "Cambodian Palm-Leaf Manuscripts: Procedures for Conservation." Department of Preservation and Collection Maintenance. Available from http://www.library.cornell.edu/preservation/manual/palm.html. Accessed 25 April 2011.  Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) and Cornell University Library. "Palm Leaf Manuscripts." Library Preservation and Conservation Southeast Asia Tutorial. Available from http://www.librarypreservation.org/preservation/indigenous1.htm. Accessed 25 April 2011.  Perumal, P.. "Conservation of Palm Leaf Manuscripts." Indian Institute of Astrophysics. Available from http://www.iiap.res.in/archives/pdfs/Perumal.pdf. Accessed 25 April 2011.  University of Southern Mississippi. "PalmLeaf Manuscript." Special Collections. Available from http://www.lib.usm.edu/spcol/exhibitions/item_of_the_month/iotm_nov_08.ht ml. Accessed 29 April 2011.  Whitman College. "The PalmLeaf Manuscript." Sheehan Gallery. Available from http://www.whitman.edu/sheehan/PostCards/exhibit-a.html. Accessed 29 April 2011.