The Conservation and Treatment Center at King Abdulaziz Public Library has achieved a new milestone after completing the restoration and treatment of more than (10,861) items from the Library’s collections, including historical photographs, documents, maps, rare books, manuscripts, newspapers, and periodicals. This was carried out in accordance with the latest scientific and professional methods in restoration, treatment, sterilization, and preventive conservation, contributing to the preservation of these collections, extending their lifespan, and ensuring their sustainability for future generations.

The Center’s work included the restoration of a collection of rare historical photographs documenting the Two Holy Mosques and the historical and urban developments that took place in their surroundings, in addition to photographs of Arabian horses and stables belonging to a number of kings and princes of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These photographs carry significant historical and national value, documenting important aspects of the Kingdom’s history and heritage.

The Center also worked on restoring a collection of historical photographs of the city of Taif, documenting its landmarks, buildings, and aspects of its social and urban life during different periods, contributing to the preservation of the city’s visual memory and making it accessible to researchers and those interested.

In the field of historical newspapers and periodicals, the Center treated and restored a number of rare materials, most notably a special issue of Al Riyadh newspaper entitled (Riyadh Between the Past and the Present). Its pages were treated, restored, and reinforced while preserving the newspaper’s original appearance.

The work also included Issue No. 14 of Sawt Al Sharq magazine, published in Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1373 AH, corresponding to 1953 AD, which was a special issue on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the reign of King Saud. It also included Issue No. 960 of Al-Khawater newspaper, published on 17 Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1395 AH, corresponding to March 29, 1975, which featured special coverage of the death of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz, may he rest in peace.

These periodicals underwent specialized scientific procedures, including cleaning, treatment, restoration, and reinforcement, in order to preserve their original papers and limit further deterioration, while ensuring that their identity and historical appearance were not affected.

In the field of maps, the Center completed the treatment and restoration of thousands of rare historical maps, including a map of the Arabian Peninsula dating back to 1771 AD, in an edition published in 1789 AD and produced using copper engraving techniques.

The map covers a wide area of the Arabian Peninsula and presents its three classical divisions: Arabia Felix, Arabia Deserta, and Arabia Petraea. It is also distinguished by the geographical information it contains about a number of locations and cities, such as Diriyah, Rimah, Al-Mithnab, Al-Houta, and Abu Arish, in addition to its artistic design, which includes an ornate title frame and botanical illustrations.

The Conservation and Treatment Center gives special attention to sterilization procedures, considering them one of the essential stages that cannot be dispensed with before beginning treatment and restoration procedures.

Sterilization is carried out according to carefully planned procedures appropriate to the nature and condition of each material, ensuring the safety of workers and protecting the collections from the spread of agents that cause deterioration, without causing harmful effects to their original components.

As part of its knowledge and training role, the Center has begun organizing specialized workshops and training courses in the fields of restoration, treatment, sterilization, preventive conservation, and preservation of cultural collections.

These programs are offered individually or collectively, according to the needs of trainees and beneficiary entities, helping to transfer professional expertise and raise awareness of sound scientific practices in preserving cultural heritage.

Among the Center’s notable achievements is also its continued acceptance of external service requests submitted by individuals and government and private entities. The Center examines the collections, assesses their condition, and carries out the sterilization, treatment, or restoration work they require, according to the nature of each material and the degree of deterioration it has suffered.

The continuation of these services stems from King Abdulaziz Public Library’s role in serving the community, preserving items of historical and intellectual value, and strengthening cooperation with individuals and institutions in the field of protecting cultural and documentary heritage.

The Conservation and Treatment Center at King Abdulaziz Public Library continues to fulfill its mission of safeguarding cultural heritage by combining restoration, treatment, sterilization, and preventive conservation, implementing specialized training programs, and providing technical services to individuals and entities, thereby contributing to the protection and preservation of cultural collections for future generations.