Projects

• 1: Books
• 1.1: AIC & FAIC Field Guide to Emergency Response
• 1.2: The Museum Environment by Garry Thomson
• 1.3: Integrated Pest Management for Cultural Heritage by David Pinniger
• 2: Hardware Projects
• 2.1: Qirab™ Conservation Cradle - QCC50
• 3: Standards
• 3.1: NDSA Levels of Digital Preservation
• 4: Software Projects
• 4.1: Qirab™ MetadataTool

1 - Books

1.1 - AIC & FAIC Field Guide to Emergency Response

Introduction

When disaster strikes, what will you do to protect your cultural artifacts? What actually occurs may be very different from what you expect. Even with a plan, you’ll need clear and practical advice to help you with your initial response and salvaging steps.

As part of its knowledge dissemination efforts, Qirab is officially releasing an Arabic version* of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation’s (FAIC) Field Guide to Emergency Response. The publication is a handbook that provides a step-by-step guide to heritage professionals to work through natural and human-instigated disasters in order to save their precious collections and prevent further damage. This translation is possible due to the generous permission of AIC and FAIC.

Follow the Field Guide’s step-by-step instructions tailored to the scope of your emergency: what to do first, whom to call, how to prevent further damage. Find information on how to form a response team to deal with multiple tasks, including working with emergency responders, assessing and documenting damage, ensuring health and safety of staff, and setting up a salvage operation. Stabilize your collections with advice from professionals on handling the most common types of damage from water, mold, corrosion, pests, and other threats. Customize handy checklists for your institution and find vital conservation resources.

*AIC and FAIC had created a leaflet of the handbook, the Emergency Response and Salvage Wheel, which was previously translated to Arabic by Qirab as well as The Arab Image Foundation.

Chapters

1. Emergency and Institutional Contacts
2. Now, Where Is That and What Do I Save First?
3. Insurance and Suppliers and Vendors
4. Master Supply List

About AIC and FAIC

The American Institute for Conservation and the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation work together to promote the preservation and protection of cultural heritage. Find out more here.

Download

The field guide is an excellent tool for both response and recovery, and is now available online free of charge in PDF format for all Arabic-speaking users on Qirab’s website as well as on Archive.org. The file is set up to be easily printed in A5 format with a spiral binding to facilitate its accessibility and portability.

Download the Book Here

Social Media

1.2 - The Museum Environment by Garry Thomson

Introduction

Qirab released an Arabic translation of Garry Thomson’s The Museum Environment in 2021. This book on the science of museum collection protection and preservation is one of the first books to study how to protect manuscripts and other objects on display in a museum exhibition.

Quoted from Routledge.com:

The Museum Environment is in two parts; Part I: intended for conservators and museum curators and describes the principles and techniques of controlling the environment so that the potentially damaging effects of light, humidity and air pollution on museum exhibits may be minimised. Part II: the author brings together and summarises information and data, hitherto widely scattered in the literature of diverse fields, which is essential to workers in conservation research.

Since the timely publication of the first two editions of this book in hardback, interest in preventive conservation has continued to grow strongly making publication of this paperback edition all the more welcome. Those whose responsibility it is to care for the valuable and beautiful objects in the world’s collections have become increasingly aware that it is better to prevent their deterioration, by ensuring that they are housed and displayed in the best possible environmental conditions, than to wait until restoration and repair are necessary. The changes for the second edition have been mainly concentrated in the sections on electronic hygrometry, new fluorescent lamps, buffered cases, air conditioning systems, data logging, and control within historic buildings. A new appendix, giving a summary of museum specificiations for conservation, provides a useful, quick reference.

Quoted from Wikipedia:

Garry Thomson made a significant contribution to Conservation science, Preventive conservation, and Art conservation as a whole with his publication ‘The Museum Environment’ first published in 1978, and revised in 1986.[4] This book became the major source of information regarding recommendations for environmental conditions in museums around the world, and although the guidelines are no longer followed as rigidly as they once were it continues to be a significant guiding book for the discipline. Its popularity continues at least in part due to the way in which he explained complicated scientific concepts in simple terms. The Museum Environment set out parameters for the best conditions in which objects could be stored and displayed within the Museum Environment.

Chapters

• Light
• Humidity
• Air pollution
• Future trends in environmental control
• Summary of specifications
• References
• Index

About the Author

Quoted from Wikipedia:

Garry Thomson began his career as a Research Chemist, at the National Gallery (London), a post he held from 1955 to 1960, when he was promoted to Scientific Adviser to the Trustees and Head of the Scientific Department at the National Gallery from 1960 a post he held until his retirement in 1985.[2] In 1968 Garry organized the first conference on museum climatology for the International Institute for Conservation (IIC) in London. He also served as President of the International Institute for Conservation (IIC), from 1983 to 1986. He undertook various missions for ICCROM, including to Algeria, India and Lebanon. With colleagues, he conceived the ICCROM course on ‘Scientific Principles of Conservation’, which was launched in Rome in 1974, and in which he also taught. In 1976 he contributed to the new ICCROM course on ‘Preventive Conservation’ and was a regular lecturer at ICCROM until 1989.[3] Following his retirement he was a trustee of the National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside from 1986 to 1991. In 1999 he received the first Plowden Gold Medal, awarded by the Royal Warrant Holders’ Association to recognise the most significant contributions to the advancement of the conservation profession.

Purchase

The Museum Environment Arabic translation is availble on Jumia.com.eg or from Tradigital Cairo at +2 02 23801764 or sales@tradigital-cairo.com

Social Media

The Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation is pleased to announce the launching of its first publication in the series of Qirab, a publications series issued by the Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation. It’s the Arabic translation of Garry Thomson’s “The Museum Environment”. pic.twitter.com/9W0JOC78Et

— قِرَاب (@qirab_tif) June 28, 2021

1.3 - Integrated Pest Management for Cultural Heritage by David Pinniger

Introduction

Qirab released an Arabic translation of David Pinniger’s Integrated Pest Management for Cultural Heritage in 2023.

This book discusses the causes of infestation of various pests that put at risk the preservation of cultural heritage collections and recommendations for prevention and control of them; and the integrated use of physical and chemical methods that constitute Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Description

Quoted from Archetype.co.uk

Integrated Pest Management for Cultural Heritage is a practical, color-illustrated, working handbook for the curator, conservator and all persons concerned with the management of collections. It is an essential guide to the recognition of insect, rodent and bird pests with advice on the practical steps required to prevent and control damage to collections.

While presenting the latest information on the trapping and detection of pests, the author explains the advantages and disadvantages of physical and chemical control measures including concerns about the use of pesticides and their effects on staff and the environment. In addition, he demonstrates that IPM is not only a safer option but also a more cost-effective solution to the complex problems of pest control.

This book offers comprehensive guidance for the treatment of any pest problem likely to be encountered in museums, archives and historic houses.

Contents

• Chapter 1 Introduction to Integrated Pest Management in Cultural Heritage
• Chapter 2 Insect pests
• Chapter 3 Insect detection and monitoring
• Chapter 4 Prevention of insect infestation
• Chapter 5 Control of insects
• Chapter 6 Rodents and Birds
• Chapter 7 Implementing IPM

About the Author

David Pinniger’s passion for insects started as a boy when he helped his amateur entomologist father catch dragonflies to identify them and then let them fly away again unharmed. He started work as a food inspector with the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food and then worked as a research scientist for the MAFF Central Science Laboratory in Slough. In 1996 he became an independent consultant to provide specialist advice and training on pests in museums, galleries, archives and historic houses. He is the pest management strategy adviser for English Heritage and advises many of the major national museums and galleries and historic houses in the UK. David has also worked with overseas museums and delivered lectures at conferences and training workshops in many countries. He is the author of over 60 papers and publications, including “Integrated Pest Management for Cultural Heritage” and “Pests in Houses Great and Small”.

Purchase

The Integrated Pest Management Arabic translation is availble on Jumia.com.eg or from Tradigital Cairo at +2 02 23801764 or sales@tradigital-cairo.com

Social Media

Qirab is pleased to release an Arabic translation of David Pinniger’s “Integrated Pest Management in Cultural Heritage” book. A comprehensive guide for conservators protecting cultural collections. It is available now on Jumia https://t.co/aeUiUWt2pF pic.twitter.com/842DtRp2CA

— قِرَاب (@qirab_tif) January 25, 2023

2 - Hardware Projects

2.1 - Qirab™ Conservation Cradle - QCC50

Introduction

The Qirab™ Conservation Cradle is an open-source book support design intended to securely hold books open during conservation treatment, scientific analysis, documentation, and preservation works. It facilitates a hands-free holding of the book in a stable and adjustable position without extreme pressure.

The plans for the QCC50 are freely available for anyone to contruct their own cradle. It is built from commodity materials and 3D printed parts.

Precedents

The concept of the Qirab™ Conservation Cradle was inspired by the work of Roger S. Williams¹ and the team at Northwestern University on the Adaptable Conservation Book Support² and the subsequent 3D printed upgrades done at the Auckland War Memorial Museum³.

Jeff Peachy designed a similar “book fixture”⁴ for conservation work which he sells as a comercial product.

Design

The design of the Qirab™ Conservation Cradle uses a 20mm aluminum profile frame mounted with 3D printed hinges onto a wood base. The base provides a clean and stable working surface where various 3D printed tools can be attached.

The 3D printed tools include a tool holder, a cold-shoe light mount, spatulas, rods, gray card holder and a magnetic tyvek/mylar strap holder. All are designed to be conservation safe for use on manuscripts or rare books.

The tools are stored within two compartments in the cradle for easy storage and transport.

Download

The CAD designs, 3D printable files, Bill of Materials, and Assembly Instructions for how to build the Qirab™ Conservation Cradle QCC50 are available on the Qirab Github.

QDC50 ZIP Download

We are open to including community improvements or tool designs in future versions of the conservation cradle.

License

The Qirab™ Conservation Cradle design is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

3 - Standards

3.1 - NDSA Levels of Digital Preservation

Description

As libraries continue the immense task of digitizing their manuscript and other holdings, it becomes critical to plan for long term digital image storage and preservation. As manuscripts age, the digitized manuscript images will be an important document of their previous condtion.

Qirab™ translated the National Digital Stewardship Alliance (NDSA) Levels of Digital Preservation 2019 into Arabic as a resource for Arab libraries to facilitate planning conversations as they move towards better digital preservation practice.

“The Levels of Digital Preservation (LoP) is a resource for digital preservation practitioners when building or evaluating their digital preservation program.”

The Levels of Preservation functional areas of storage, integrity, control, metadata, and content provide useful suggested actions to achieve a more robust digital preservation strategy.

Arabic NDSA Levels of Digital Preservation

Download

Qirab’s Arabic translations of the Levels of Preservation and the Implementation Guide are available directly from the NDSA’s Open Science Foundation file sharing site:

• 2019 NDSA Levels of Preservation عربي
• 2019 LOP Implementation Guide and Working Definitions عربي

License

The NDSA Levels of Digital Preservation are Copyright © 2019 by National Digital Stewardship Alliance. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

4 - Software Projects

4.1 - Qirab™ MetadataTool

Introduction

The Qirab™ Metadatatool is a webpage tool to allow the formatting of Dublin Core metadata using an Arabic language user interface.

How To Use

To use the MetadataTool, download the entire source folder and open the index.html in your web browser. It works locally offline or when uploaded to a webserver.

Download

The MetadataTool is available from the Qirab™ Github page.

Credits

This project is a simplified adaptation of the Dublin Core Generator by nsteffal

License

It is released under the GNU General Public License (v2).