The whole publication in PDF - Culture in Development

1987; Onwubiko, 1991; Ormanni, 1975; Palma, 1999; Palmai, 1982; Pastoureau, 1984; Paton, 1985; Pearson,
1979 and 1993a; Perti,1987 and 1989; Petherbridge et al., 1995; Perera, 1991; Plumbe, 1987c and 1987d; Pollack,
1988; Rh odes, 1969; Ribeiro Zaher, 1999; Ricks, 1981 and 1982; Rijal, 1963; Rutimann, 1992; Salazar, 1974;
Sauçois, 1976; Silva, 1991; Smith, 1996; Sulistyo et al., 1991; Souza Marder et al., 2000; Strickland, 1959;
Sutaarga, 1974; Taylor, 1994; Terry González, 1996; Thurston, 1986; Tsonobe, 1986; Tunis, 1989; Unesco,
1978;Unomah, 1985; Vinas Torner, 1975; Werth, 1984; Westra, 1987; Wettasinghe, 1989 and 1994; Wheeler, 1990;
Wise, 1999; Zaki et al., 1993.
For some literature on the introduction of preservation, pro cedures, needs etc. in the tropics see Alegbeleye,
1996; Bearman et al., 2000; Beck, 1999; B ergdah l et al., 1994; Cloonan, 199 7a; Dean, 199 7; Evan s, 1992; Jalil,
1992; Kathpalia, 1978; Kivia, 1997; KraemerKoelier, 1960; Kufa, 1993 and 1997; Lyall, 1994; Perti, 1986;
Plumbe, 1959a; Prajapati, 1995; Roper, 1980 and 1989; Russel, 1997; Swartzburg, 1993; UNESCO, 1989.
2.4 Appropriate Technology
Archives in tropical areas face formidable pro blem. The tropical environment is very hostile to records and archives
often face shortages of funds, trained personnel and training facilities. Besides, it is exceptionally difficult to obtain
complex machinery or spare parts. Consequently conservation in the tropics should be deliberately oriented towards
economy and low level technology; complex machinery sho uld not be suggested unless its use cannot be avoided
and the simplest acceptable solutions have been put forward (Rhys-Lewis, 1997). It will not be easy for developing
countries to get the right equipment in their vicinity. For them it will be always more expensive, even if only for the
extra transporation costs. The lack of a working bindery and restoration equipment was found at the Nigerian
National Archives (Albada et al., 1989). Hector Montenegro from Cuba also recognised these problems. He
remarked that the scarcity of economic resources and the inapplicability of m uch of the technology currently
available, are the main causes of the problems in conservation. Creative, affordable solutions are required that
address the specific regional conditions (Gerhard, 1990).
An important recommendation from the meeting on microfilm preservation in Chiang Mai in February 2000 was
the need to fund research into more appropriate technologies which would recognise the realities of the clim atic
conditions in the region, utilise locally available materials, and establish standards which would recognise the
necessities of using whatever capture techniques are at hand (A bhakorn et al., 2000; Davies, 19 79). Rosenberg fully
agreed and added that solutions to conservation problems must use easily accessible resources and also be
appropriate to the economic situation and the culture and tradition of the region (Rosenberg, 1986).
Unfortunately, there are few technical workshops in many libraries and archives in the African developing
world. Those that have a workshop, of whatever type, experience real functional d ifficulties. These are mostly
related to minimal eq uipment or obsolete technical materials, chronic shortage of raw materials, and inputs, and
finally maintenance (Mbaye, 1995). In quite a number of countries on other continents the situation is not very
different. A significant disadvantage of educating conservation personnel abroad is that the type of equipment they
have been trained with is unavailable in the motherland. Another reason to train the staff in the homeland, is that
the results of a study outside the region need to be readapted to the needs of the home region. A key concept for any
conservation workshop in a developing country is self-reliance (Matwale, 1995).
Quite often, despite the will to preserve, the necessary knowledge is lacking; it is not realised that by following
simple precautions much can be achieved (Agrawal, 1993). Petherbridge formulates his work as a preservation
consultant as follows: ‘Preservation for me is firstly technical knowledge, but that’s only a tiny fragment of the
process. It’s basically a matter of managing political and economic situations. In the area of documentary
preservation, it’s to do with developing a nucleus of trained specialists and a cultural infrastructure that is not
dependant on outside expertise’ (Giese, 1995).
Paper has been a precious commodity for two millennia. In a changing world, there is a case for preserving
information on permanent paper. Not all copies of a document need to be on permanent paper. A copy on permanent
paper stored in a safe environment may preserve information for a very long time. We do not need permanent paper
for every document, but we need permanent paper for all the information that will become the heritage of
generations to come (Dahlø, 1998, see also Bégin et al., 2000).
In the near future certain professional groups in many rich countries will be under an obligation to use permanent
papers. Frequently the quality of paper manufactured in developing countries for local use is very poor and not
suitable for paper conservation (Biswas, 1992). The need for more permanent or alkaline papers is therefore even
bigger in these regions (Kirkham, 1990). Several resourceful individuals and institutions took the initiative towards
a more permanent local paper production. In at least three Latin American countries this idea has been put to the test.
The preventive conservation projects involved are actively pursuing private industry for assistance in developing
supplies of stable papers to replace poor quality papers and as substitutes for Japanese tissue and other acid-free
conservation papers (Raphael, 1993).
For some time now the art of Japanese paper conservation has been very popular with western conservators. The
ideas and techniques are also exported to developing countries. Yet, the Japanese papers are extremely expensive,
forcing countries like Nepal, Thailand and India to use their local handmade paper for restoration purposes. These
papers might not be as fine as the Japanese ones but they are certainly neutral if not a little alkaline.
In Brazil Antônio Gonçalves de Silva, chemical engineer at the National Archives, developed a conservation
paper, similar to the Jap anese type, from the banana tree. It has good mechanical resistance and transparency.
Together with a local NGO (Non-governmental Organisation) the National Archives has undertaken a study for the
construction of a plant to produce this special paper. At the same time, the aim is to create an alternative source of
income to the peasants and thus minimise migration to urban areas (personal communication from Adriana Cox
Hollós, Arquivo Nacional, March 2001).