Nanjing University Hosts Experts for Ancient Book Revitalization Assessment

On the morning of July 2, Qian Ning, member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, led a team of experts to the library of Nanjing University Xianlin Campus to investigate the protection and revitalization of ancient books. The expert group members visited the library’s document restoration center and learned about the protection of Nanjing local documents in the collection and the use of laser engraving machines to make ancient book engravings. Chen Yunsong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Nanjing University, accompanied the investigation.

Chen Yunsong introduced that Nanjing University has actively implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping’s instructions for Jiangsu to “explore new experiences in building a modern Chinese civilization”, established the first Chinese National Modern Civilization Research Institute in the country, and promoted the Provincial Key Laboratory of Digital Research on Chinese Civilization. It has actively promoted the academic research, theoretical interpretation and systematic construction of the modern Chinese civilization in an overall and systematic manner, and once again heralded the times.

Qian Ning pointed out that Nanjing University Library has a profound foundation, solid foundation and advanced technology in the protection of ancient books. He also hopes to further serve the industry-university-research work in the field of Jiangsu’s cultural tourism, actively combine the scientific and cultural strength of Nanjing University, and deepen and closely cooperate with public libraries such as Nanjing Library to let ancient culture and modern civilization complement each other in Jiangsu.

Director Huang Xianjin made a keynote report on the development of ancient book protection and revitalization in Nanjing University Library, the three paths of digital teaching activation, digital scientific research activation, and information-based shared activation, as well as future work ideas. Director Cheng Zhangcan of the Institute of Classical Literature of Nanjing University introduced Nanjing University’s resource advantages, talent advantages, and cooperation advantages in the protection and revitalization of ancient books, especially the multidisciplinary cooperation of Nanjing University, which actively promoted the protection and revitalization of ancient books. Professor Hu Wenbing of the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering introduced the polymer chemistry research on the blood-written Dunhuang sutras of Nanjing University’s precious cultural relics, as well as the conclusions obtained, and the wide-ranging impact it has had in the field of Dunhuang studies. Associate Professor Chen Gang of the School of Geography and Ocean Sciences showed the expert group the situation of the revitalization and utilization of old maps of Nanjing City. Director Li Dan of the Library’s Ancient Books and Special Collections Department introduced the ideas about the collection of ancient books, the construction of courses for the protection and restoration of ancient books, and the industrialization and revitalization of ancient books and documents.

Section Chief Yao Bin of the Social Science Department and librarians Shi Wenjia, Zhou Yan, Li Yilun, Chen Jing and others from the Ancient Books and Special Collections Department of the library participated in the inspection and exchange throughout the whole process.

The expert group first visited the ancient books and local documents reading area of ​​the library to learn about the ancient books collection and resource development. Afterwards, Director Huang Xianjin made a thematic report on the development history of Nanjing University Library, digital teaching activation, digital scientific research activation, information sharing activation and future work ideas. Professor Hu Wenbing and Professor Cheng Zhangcan made supplementary speeches on the cooperation between the library and colleges and departments, library talent training, and participation in teaching. After listening to the report, the expert group of the Department of Culture and Tourism made suggestions on how Nanjing University laboratories can cooperate with local cultural and tourism units and highlight their own characteristics.

The expert group also visited the library’s document restoration center to learn about the protection of Nanjing local documents in the library’s collection, the development of related cultural and creative products, and the use of laser burners to produce ancient book engravings.