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The manuscripts depository of the Vatican Library is one of the best examples of preservation applied to ancient books. It was built about 25 years ago, without any windows and with an air conditioning system which ensure a constant temperature and relative humidity control. A quarter of century after, it needs improvements particularly in some structural features (opening of a security door, new floor, papyrus and acidic papers storage, supplementary stacks etc.) and in air filtration. During the three years closure (2007-2010) of the Vatican Library due to its general restructuring, it will be possible carry out requirements and procedures to perfect the preservation of more than 70 mile ancient manuscripts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first part of the renewal of Mantua's Teresiana Municipal Library, built in 1780 by the empress Marie Therese, is close to be completed; it affects not only the technical components of the building, but also the remarkable wooden shelves of both the "Sale Teresiane" (Marie Therese Halls). The Sale Teresiane, designed by Paolo Pozzo, the architect of the former Jesuit College in the Palazzo degli Studi, were meant to host the Imperial Royal Public Library of Mantua, and are now used to hold the library book collections. Together with the conservation of the wooden structure and shelves, a preservation plan has been set. It's been specifically focused, in the first stage, on a study of the condition of Sale Teresiane volumes, on the safeguarding (through a check of the environmental parameters in the storerooms and reading rooms) and on the maintenance (through anoxic disinfection and dusting) of book and documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]