One pilot application of mobile Raman spectroscopy and information technologies for cultural heritage inventory studies

Abstract

With the improvement of the technology, new methods are being produced for documentation of library materials. By using written, visual and auditory methods for documentation of library materials, all of the stages regarding the material are recorded. By this way, transferring information and data to next generations that is the basic aim of the documentation is targeted. Besides, documentation of the works within the library building before/after the restoration is also crucial. Documentation without giving harm to primary materials like paper or leather (without an intervention), taking the decision of intervention by damage assessment, protection of the works by digitalization and sharing with the concerned parties are provided. Many alternative softwares are used in accordance with the implementations and documentations that are desired to be performed. Digitalization stage covering all of the details of a book from the binder of the book to inner pages provides conveying of the work to many users without giving harm. Additionally, these studies help restorators on the restoration of the books. On the other hand, Raman spectroscopy is extensively used in analysis of the cultural heritage artefacts. In order to protect heritage materials by "spectroscopic cryptology techniques" (Infrared and Raman spectroscopy) play a crucial role in understanding and differentiating the fake/artificial materials from each other. The aim of this study is to bring spectroscopic methods and other visual documentation methods together and produce a cultural heritage inventory. In this study, by formation of a written, visual and spectroscopic database for rare books at Recai Mehmet Efendi Library, documentation study regarding dye pigments of leather binder of the book, paper quality, definition of both paper and leather original materials, definition of deterioration level and restoration proposal of the books were studied. (C) 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.