Italy and Mauritania: A Project by the Autonomous Region Fruili Venezia Giulia for the Preservation of Desert Libraries

A collaborative project between Italy's Autonomous Region Friuli Venezia Giulia and Mauritania successfully trained 12 local specialists in advanced preservation techniques for ancient manuscripts, now operational across five laboratories. These include the capital Nouakchott and four historic 'villes anciennes'—Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt, and Oualata—critical to preserving Mauritania's endangered desert libraries. The initiative, approved in 2005, demonstrates a sustainable model for safeguarding cultural heritage in arid environments through localized expertise. This approach addresses the urgent need to protect fragile manuscripts from degradation while empowering local communities with specialized skills.

Giacomello, A. (2011). Italy and Mauritania: A Project by the Autonomous Region Fruili Venezia Giulia for the Preservation of Desert Libraries. Journal of Paper Conservation, 12(3), 25–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/20571682.2011.12462103