Result of EAJRS preservation* survey
Simple tabulation of 20 responses from Europe
1. How is the size of your Japanese old book collection and what types of materials you have?
size: (4) large(6) medium(9) small(1) unknown( ) other

type: (17) rare books (9 ) manuscripts (12) maps (11 ) woodblock prints (8) photos(3) other (album style ukiyoe prints／not-rare old Japanese books, fragmentary Buddhist sutra／picture cards)
2. How do you see the general condition of your Japanese old book collection?
( ) excellent(9) good(9) fair(2) bad( ) don’t know

3. How is the general usage of your Japanese old book collection?
( ) heavy (6) medium (10) low(1) other (personal use only)(3) none

4. Please answer by yes or no to the following questions.
Have you done a conservation survey of your Japanese old book collection?
(11) yes (year:1992/2005 and 2012 for old maps only/since2007/2009 and2010/2011-2014/2012/2012/2013/ 2012 - 2013/2013/2014- present)(9) noDo you have a preservation plan for your Japanese old book collection?
(9) yes(11) noDo you have a disaster plan for your Japanese old book collection?
(12) yes(8) no5. Please describe any preservation/conservation projects you have carried out on your Japaneseold book collection. (Please specify the project and year)/ Japanese conservator’s visiting project for conservation assessment, repair, protective enclosures,advice etc.
/ Repair of Nara-ehon at the Far Eastern Conservation Centre, Leiden/ Conservation assessment and advice for Meiji-era photo albums by Japanese photographic
conservator/ Japanese old books collections surveys by Japanese experts/ Preparation of online catalogue/ Protective boxing with acid-free cardboard/ Restoration and digitalization project of manuscripts (Continuing)/ Additional bookbinding/ Storing in chitsu (帙)/ Microfilming/ Reboxing (1000 items done since 2005)/ Rebinding in original Japanese style (50 items rebound since 2005)1

/ Microfilming of early Japanese newspaper/ Repair and rehousing of 2 albums of surimono prints and an album of Kabuki prints/ Digitization projects for old maps, ukiyo-e and old Japanese books (Collaboration with Ritsumeikan
Univ. Art Research Center)/ Restoration of old maps in the occasion of exhibitition/ Collection survey and improvement by wrapping with acid-free paper for rare items/ Preparation of disaster plan
/ Collection survey and planning of cataloging and digitization of East Asian old books and museum
artifacts/ Dismantling of print albums/ Conservation work of Kabuki prints for the exhibition/ Digitization of pre-modern Japanese books since 2010. Simultaneously recording of their bookcondition and changing/renewing storage boxes etc.

6. Please choose the issues you feel to be concerns or problems regarding the preservation ofyour Japanese old book collection. (choose as many as applicable)(4) lack of inventory/catalogue(4) storage(3) environment(1) security(2) damage/deterioration(2) insect/mold(9) lack of budget(11) lack of staff time(7) lack of conservation staff(2) lack of guidance/manual(4) lack of preservation knowledge/expertise(1) lack of recognition(2) improper handling(3) lack of disaster plan( ) other ()7. In your opinion, what are the preservation measures most needed by your Japanese old bookcollection? Please choose up to four from the following:(7) preparation of an inventory/catalogue(4) improvement of storage(2) environmental controls( ) security(8) conservation treatment (repairs, etc.)(5) protective enclosures(1) fumigation(1) IPM (Integrated Pest Management)(6) preservation /conservation advice(4) education of staff( ) education of users(3) preservation /conservation seminar or workshop( ) microfilming(12) digitization( ) preservation plan( ) disaster plan(8) budget(5) external funding(3) cooperation (of what kind and with whom? )(2) other (updating inventory/dismantling photo albums in order to display prints )8. Please answer the following questions regarding digitization.
Do you have plans to digitize your Japanese old book collection (either in whole or in part)?
(9) yes(9) no(1) other( Already completed)
If yes, please specify the type and number of items.
()

Do you hope to digitize your Japanese old book collection in the future?
(12) yes(5) no (one is because already completed)(1) other(1) NAIf yes, please specify the type and number of items you hope to digitize.
(奈良絵本・貴重書／古書／貴重書・版画／写本／和古書／地図・錦絵・和古書)
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9. If you wanted support from or cooperation with Japanese institutions or organizations
regarding the preservation of your Japanese old collection please specify what kind ofsupport/cooperation you would want.
(11) preservation /conservation advice(3) preservation /conservation seminar at your institution(8) preservation /conservation seminar in Europe(7) conservation treatment( ) funding for microfilming(8) funding for digitalization(6) cooperation on digitization(7) training of conservation staff in Japan(2) other (Support for database creation/funding to have the print album dismantoled )10. Please feel free to make any other comments regarding the preservation and conservation ofJapanese old book collections in your institution and/or in Europe.
/ In order to carry out conservation and digitization of the Japanese old books, external fund ing andsupport including from Japan is indispensable. The supports from Japan would be beneficial for
Japanese counterparts as it would contribute for the conservation of Japanese cultural assets and forthe access improvement of Japanese collections via internet.
/ Exchange of conservators between European and Japanese institutions would be beneficial to bothsides.
/ Beside digitalization, support or cooperation for database creation is much needed.
/ It is hoped the conservation information such as of conservation vendors for Japanese books isshared among the Japan study librarians in Europe.
/ It is important to cooperate with similar institutions and experts cross countries , especially in thesmall countries.

* “ISO 5127-2000: Information and documentation - Vocabulary” defines preservation as ‘allmeasures taken, including financial and strategic decisions, to maintain the integrity and extend the lifeof document or collections’ , conservation as ‘intervention techniques applied to prevent, arrest or delay
deterioration’ and restoration as ‘action taken to return a document which has suffered deterioration ordamage as closely as practicable to its original state’.

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