![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TZM4WVWQ5BGD5KITFS5VDCL2QQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=c35582b2eed941383e9514fd7e1627840f9f60de8911a78723a966589f1f2555&width=400&height=225)
UAE National Library and Archives Centre for Preservation and Conservation, in Abu Dhabi's Al Mafraq neighbourhood
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZK6ZZMX5H5FXHBR4BXZD5IZG5I.jpg?smart=true&auth=5ae05b49c5d3831d7bcdcfb670686e16ec8a77d2424900ec2865ef45fee7dbf2&width=400&height=225)
Records restoration at the National Library and Archives Centre for Preservation and Conservation in Abu Dhabi. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AQEMIOBSL5BTTAFKGF3UCEWFHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fa16b621073c2eccebc732ace6ad7137fe97daaca332f4a1b2fac487884fa2a6&width=400&height=225)
Restoration work is a delicate process done by hand
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LRBTOHZGABFTTB2XBKJLCONA4A.jpg?smart=true&auth=4740eda1135fb738847dec5e61be8a3a001a5e65e9a5c91cbf890fa4ef13c355&width=400&height=225)
Some of the tools used to clean old books and documents
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BFXGMFRHFBA3JE22EM7VUPL5GI.jpg?smart=true&auth=3ebea043643911a773fb5a5350614148793e83590194b152e378e4701b998594&width=400&height=225)
The centre uses 'Piql', which stores digital archives on physical film strips, ensuring valuable records are not lost
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F72ITMSBCNG3HMPCFOQFKCKLZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=8620ff0dac0156b9e8dd52b20684a0065a4c0725d30f409b92afe7d9c66124cd&width=400&height=225)
Piql uses microform film to safeguard archives
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JZQ7JIKX2VGHNDSFE4DZBL6JBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e2ade9b0ec97c1a0232375e43557ada8ae6bb9fd0c8969036eaad2189d77ed45&width=400&height=225)
Old reels of film are also restored at the centre
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/365KOMS3WFD7ZDLJFK7MHCP4ZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f1a1943d63bad103496ba12145b99e240725b58791893d90aa455d9aac760caa&width=400&height=225)
Scanning old newspapers
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X32TZELNHVGMVAS3DUUPZBOVPI.jpg?smart=true&auth=f1c3ab4eabff1d993b6515c13d3807e740bc1880952e455420b2ce3b295d72fd&width=400&height=225)
Old maps under restoration
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HJYZ6DD36JA4LNX7MTGTWCN6N4.jpg?smart=true&auth=8aa0be177d4e1cbda79a2e3adf0b421c63a8ffd6bdddbf927e0b2b1f8c930436&width=400&height=225)
The restoration process can be time consuming
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TZM4WVWQ5BGD5KITFS5VDCL2QQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=c35582b2eed941383e9514fd7e1627840f9f60de8911a78723a966589f1f2555&width=400&height=225)
UAE National Library and Archives Centre for Preservation and Conservation, in Abu Dhabi's Al Mafraq neighbourhood
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZK6ZZMX5H5FXHBR4BXZD5IZG5I.jpg?smart=true&auth=5ae05b49c5d3831d7bcdcfb670686e16ec8a77d2424900ec2865ef45fee7dbf2&width=400&height=225)
Records restoration at the National Library and Archives Centre for Preservation and Conservation in Abu Dhabi. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AQEMIOBSL5BTTAFKGF3UCEWFHE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fa16b621073c2eccebc732ace6ad7137fe97daaca332f4a1b2fac487884fa2a6&width=400&height=225)
Restoration work is a delicate process done by hand
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LRBTOHZGABFTTB2XBKJLCONA4A.jpg?smart=true&auth=4740eda1135fb738847dec5e61be8a3a001a5e65e9a5c91cbf890fa4ef13c355&width=400&height=225)
Some of the tools used to clean old books and documents
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BFXGMFRHFBA3JE22EM7VUPL5GI.jpg?smart=true&auth=3ebea043643911a773fb5a5350614148793e83590194b152e378e4701b998594&width=400&height=225)
The centre uses 'Piql', which stores digital archives on physical film strips, ensuring valuable records are not lost
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F72ITMSBCNG3HMPCFOQFKCKLZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=8620ff0dac0156b9e8dd52b20684a0065a4c0725d30f409b92afe7d9c66124cd&width=400&height=225)
Piql uses microform film to safeguard archives
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JZQ7JIKX2VGHNDSFE4DZBL6JBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e2ade9b0ec97c1a0232375e43557ada8ae6bb9fd0c8969036eaad2189d77ed45&width=400&height=225)
Old reels of film are also restored at the centre
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/365KOMS3WFD7ZDLJFK7MHCP4ZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f1a1943d63bad103496ba12145b99e240725b58791893d90aa455d9aac760caa&width=400&height=225)
Scanning old newspapers
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X32TZELNHVGMVAS3DUUPZBOVPI.jpg?smart=true&auth=f1c3ab4eabff1d993b6515c13d3807e740bc1880952e455420b2ce3b295d72fd&width=400&height=225)
Old maps under restoration
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HJYZ6DD36JA4LNX7MTGTWCN6N4.jpg?smart=true&auth=8aa0be177d4e1cbda79a2e3adf0b421c63a8ffd6bdddbf927e0b2b1f8c930436&width=400&height=225)
The restoration process can be time consuming
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TZM4WVWQ5BGD5KITFS5VDCL2QQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=c35582b2eed941383e9514fd7e1627840f9f60de8911a78723a966589f1f2555&width=400&height=225)
UAE National Library and Archives Centre for Preservation and Conservation, in Abu Dhabi's Al Mafraq neighbourhood
How the UAE is safeguarding its history in huge recording drive
UAE National Library and Archives urges people to help create 'memory of the nation'
![John Dennehy](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F6672bef4-f371-4546-90ba-13ad5ded9082.png?smart=true&auth=f1d711e1371a4276112f01656e091484625201f90342530a0b42086db97abdf2&width=70&height=70)
John Dennehy
28 April, 2024
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic