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Manuscripts are living witnesses to a nation's history and its spiritual wealth. Restorers literally bring each page back to life, preserving the cultural and historical value of ancient books and passing it on to future generations. We spoke with Zhanserik Beisenkulov, chief specialist in the Restoration and Conservation Department of the National Center for Manuscripts and Rare Books, about a profession that serves to revive national memory and preserve cultural heritage. The conversation focused on the importance of preserving ancient manuscripts and rare editions, the specifics and subtleties of the restorer's profession, and the responsibility of passing on national heritage to future generations.– Zhanserik Akhmetdildauli, what role do manuscripts play in preserving national history?– The role of manuscripts and ancient books in preserving national history is truly unique. They are not simply information recorded on paper, but a sacred heritage that embodies the centuries-old history of a people, its spiritual wealth, and cultural identity. Each manuscript is a silent witness to its era, conveying the breath of time and the hidden meanings of the past. By studying these priceless monuments, deeply understanding them, and presenting them to the general public, we revive national memory and clearly convey to future generations the richness of our history and its moral guidelines.– How did you come to this profession?– My path to restoration began with an early interest in history, a love of books, and a passion for drawing since childhood. This profession is not limited to the study of ancient editions – book restoration requires a creative approach and constant research. Bringing each copy back to life, reviving the traces of centuries – this is a responsible job that requires refined taste, attention to detail, and depth of thought. The more deeply I understood these nuances, the stronger my interest in the profession grew.– Where should I study to become a restorer? Are there any educational institutions in our country that train such specialists?– Currently, there are no higher education institutions in Kazakhstan that systematically train book restoration specialists. However, there are short-term professional courses. For example, such programs are offered at the National Library in Almaty. Our institution also offers an educational course, "Book Restoration and Conservation," for archival workers and private specialists. We also participate in international training programs to enhance our skills. Major training centers in this field operate in Turkey, the Russian Federation, Armenia, and Iran. Whenever possible, we adopt international experience and familiarize ourselves with practices in other countries.– What skills and qualities are required of specialists in this field?– This profession requires not only a high degree of responsibility, but also exceptional meticulousness, perseverance, and patience. It is often compared to jewelry: just as a jeweler spends a long time working on a single piece, paying attention to every minute detail, book restoration requires the utmost care and thoughtfulness. Working with ancient books, especially manuscripts, requires careful attention to their fragile nature. Each damaged fragment must be restored slowly and with the utmost precision, as such monuments cannot be restored quickly. Therefore, a restorer requires not only high professionalism but also a deep spiritual responsibility.– How does manuscript restoration begin, and how long does it take on average to work on one copy?– The restoration process consists of several stages. First, the books and documents received undergo special preparation. Initially, they are placed in vacuum-sealed bags filled with gas and quarantined for approximately one month. This is an extremely important step, as most of the materials we receive are not simply dusty old books. They have often been stored for long periods in basements, in damp environments, and sometimes even underground or in attics, resulting in damage from insects and mold. Working directly with such materials can pose a health hazard, so all sources of risk are first completely eliminated.After the quarantine period, the book is removed from its packaging, and its overall condition is reassessed. It is then placed in special dust-removal equipment, where each page is thoroughly cleaned. If the pages of books exposed to humidity for extended periods of time are stuck together and hardened, they should never be separated mechanically, as this could lead to loss of information. In such cases, the book is placed in a humidification chamber, where the pages gradually soften and are then safely separated.In the next step, the book block is completely disassembled. Most antique books arrive to us already disassembled: with missing stitching, crumbling pages, or no binding at all. The pages are separated one by one, and their acidity levels are then measured. A change in acidity is one of the key factors directly influencing the deterioration of a book. It is most often associated with prolonged storage in a humid environment, exposure to direct sunlight, and fluctuating temperatures. These processes manifest themselves as darkening and yellowing of the paper.To normalize the acidity, the pages of printed books are washed in special solutions. Working with manuscripts is significantly more complex: the ink used can bleed when exposed to water, so these materials are not washed. In such cases, areas without text are cleaned manually using specialized tools, such as cotton wool and tweezers, and acid-stabilizing agents are also used.After all cleaning and stabilization steps are completed, the pages are dried for 2-3 days on filter paper in special drying units. All of these steps constitute preparatory measures. Only then is the book handed over to the restorer, and the main restoration process begins.– What stages does the restoration process itself involve?– The first and most labor-intensive stage is restoring the sheets, the so-called "building up." Most ancient books arrive severely damaged: pages are often torn, and individual fragments are completely missing. Such losses are repaired using special Japanese paper and glue made from a hand-mixed starch. The density and thickness of the Japanese paper are individually selected, taking into account the characteristics of each sheet. The principle of reversibility is strictly adhered to: all materials used must be reprocessable without damaging the book in the future.It is the restoration stage that requires the most time and effort. Some sheets are extremely fragile and can crumble even with minimal moisture or mechanical stress, so handling them requires special care. It is not uncommon for previous owners to attempt to glue torn pages themselves. In such situations, the old materials and adhesives are carefully removed, and the book is restored to its original condition.After restoration, the sheets are treated with water and dried between layers of natural felt. The felt absorbs moisture and ensures even, proper drying of the paper. The dried pages are collected, aligned to their original format, and formed into notebooks. These notebooks are then assembled into a book block, which is hand-stitched. The stitching method is selected to match the original design of the book.The final stage of restoration is binding. If the original cover is completely intact or has minor damage, it undergoes restoration repair. However, books most often arrive unbound, in which case a new cover is made from special leather.– Tell us about a project that left a particularly lasting impression on you.– One of the most memorable projects for me was the restoration of a collection of works by Abai Kunanbayev, published in 1909. I personally carried out the entire process, from cleaning the pages to making the binding. What makes the book especially valuable is that it was printed in St. Petersburg at the initiative of Alikhan Bukeikhanuly. Not including the quarantine period, the work took approximately a month and a half. During this time, all the pages of the book were fully restored, damaged areas were repaired, and a new cover was made. Previously, the owners had tried to patch the torn areas on the first few pages with scraps of paper, revealing the original text. Carefully removing these stickers and repairing the torn pages took about two to three days. After this, the book was fully assembled and secured, and the restoration continued.Another project that left a particularly impressive impression was the restoration of the Quran (Kuran) by Khan Kenesary. Since this is a handwritten edition, employees from all departments of our center were involved in the restoration process. The overall work took approximately three months. Each page required a high degree of responsibility and utmost care. I consider myself fortunate to have participated in and witnessed the restoration of this unique work.– What difficulties can one encounter when restoring manuscripts?– Restoring handwritten books is one of the most challenging aspects of the restorer's profession. Since these books used ink, they cannot be washed with ordinary solutions. Cleaning is only possible with specially prepared liquids.Many books we receive contain traces of "restoration" performed by previous owners. These are residues of household adhesives and chemical compounds that harden over time and adhere tightly to the pages. Removing such adhesives is an extremely labor-intensive and time-consuming process, as the slightest mistake can cause a page to tear. This is why manuscript restoration requires the utmost precision and patience.– How are artificial intelligence and digitalization impacting this field? Are modern technologies used in manuscript restoration?– As part of digitalization, all books restored at our center are scanned and an electronic version is created. This is primarily necessary for readers and researchers, as direct contact with the original can lead to further damage. The originals are stored in special storage facilities with controlled temperature and humidity.As a result, each restored book is available to users electronically, while the original remains in storage.Furthermore, we actively utilize the capabilities of modern technology. For example, when a new book arrives, its condition is comprehensively assessed, and the necessary restoration work is determined. At this stage, artificial intelligence is used to classify the types of damage and select special solutions to remove previously used chemical adhesives. However, the main and most critical stages of restoration are performed entirely by hand.AI capabilities are also used to study scientific and methodological literature on restoration, helping to collect and systematize the necessary information for specialists.