Projects of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar are funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Free State of Thuringia, represented by the State Chancellery of Thuringia, Department of Culture and the Arts.
Preserving deposit copies
From 1953 to 1982 the Weimar library received deposit copies of all works published by Thuringian publishing houses. In order to permanently archive these books, conservators are now carrying out special protective measures.
Following a revision of the rules governing deposit copies in 1953, Weimar’s library was designated as the only state library in Thuringia to receive deposit copies of books produced by publishers in the districts of Erfurt, Gera and Suhl (with the exception of newspapers). Following its merger with the Central Library of German Classicism, these regional library tasks were delegated to the University Library of Jena in 1983.
The conservation of deposit copies produced by Thuringia’s publishing companies is recognised as a sovereign task of national significance. Consequently, the Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek is obliged to collect all media published or produced in Thuringia between 1953 and 1982, and catalogue and archive the items in their original condition. There are approximately 11,000 known deposit copies of books produced during this period.
Funding
A special funding programme established by the Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) provides financing to safeguard the deposit copies, which the Klassik Stiftung Weimar can regularly apply for through the Coordination Office for the Preservation of the Written Cultural Heritage. At present the Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek received partial funding totalling 50 % of the necessary resources, which were used to produce 4,500 protective cases during the funding period 2019 to 2021.
Project goals
The long-term storage of printed works produced in the mid-20th century presents libraries with daunting challenges. For one, paper manufacturers of that era used industrial methods and inexpensive raw materials which are now deteriorating at a rapid pace. Even when carefully stored and used, the pages can be easily damaged. Since 2017 the project staff have been working to conserve these books by storing them in custom-fit protective cases and folders made of conservation-quality materials. Not only do the cases protect the books from dust, light and climate fluctuations, they also reduce potential damage during transport. The Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek has commissioned independent bookbinding workshops with the production of the protective cases and is providing suitable materials for their manufacture.
The protective cases will ensure the long-term preservation of the collection with respect to their regular usage and presumably lessen the risk of loss in the case of a catastrophe. In this sense, the project goal is aligned with principles of preventative conservation. The implemented measures are individually documented for each book in the online catalogue (OPAC).
Contact
- Alexandra HackSection Head for Conservation/Restoration P +49 3643 545 810
E-Mail