The use of pre-coated Japanese paper to stabilize documents from the Hemeroteca Nacional de México: Incorporating techniques and materials from the International Course on Paper Conservation in Latin America: Meeting East

Abstract

The Hemeroteca Nacional de México (HNM) documentary collection presents several problems for its preservation due to its large volume of documents, accelerated growth, high demand for consultation, few specialized personnel, the characteristics of the constituent materials, and deterioration of its collection. In order to solve these problems, it was necessary to implement minimal processes to stabilize the documents for their use. In order to carry out these treatments, based on the specific needs of the hemerographic printed material, the pre-coated Japanese paper was used to avoid or minimize the use of water in direct conservation operations. Likewise, as part of the academic activities focused on designing and improving HNM’s conservation processes, the knowledge from the International Course on Paper Conservation in Latin America: Meeting East, and its recent 2020 online seminar, was applied to the development of non-aqueous stabilization activities for the collection.