Preservation and conservation of manuscripts: an analytical study

This paper is based on a study conducted in three major libraries in Kerala. The paper stresses the need for preservation and conservation of manuscripts in manuscripts libraries. It discusses the various techniques used in the preservation and conservation of manuscripts. It examines the causes of deterioration, existing preservation and conservation techniques, and constraints limiting effective preservation and conservation. The study revealed that oiling and cleaning of manuscripts are the most commonly used techniques. It also revealed that lack of training and inadequate funding was the most severe inhibitor to effective preservation and conservation.