Zhao Ling shows how to repair an ancient book. [Photo/Women of China]

Becoming an Expert

There are more than 40,000 ancient books in Hangzhou Public Library. Of those, more than 5,000 books are rare editions. The valuable books are well-preserved in boxes in the stack room. The boxes are moth proof, with the smell of camphorwood fragrance. The lamplight in the room is a special yellow light. The temperature in the room is between 20 -25 ℃, so the books can be maintained for a longer time. "I have the entrance card, and our department's director has the key. Only if the director and I are present, can we open the door," says Zhao.

Books published before 1911 are considered ancient. Books published between 1911-1949 are called ancient books of the Republic of China. "There is a common saying that paper can last for 1,000 years. Only handmade paper, without any chemical materials, can be kept for a long time. Machine-manufactured paper, with chemical additives, becomes yellow and crispy easily, as time goes by. Most of the ancient books of the Republic of China were published with machine- manufactured paper. It is more difficult to repair ancient books of the Republic of China," Zhao says.

The climate also affects paper. The weather in northern China is dry, so the paper in ancient books becomes crispy easily. The weather in southern China is moist, so the paper is easily damaged by worms.