Conservation of Collection

Conservation of these rare and old books, maps and photographs is one of the important challenges before us. We have followed two methods or processes to preserve these rare and old books, maps photographs etc. They are :

1. Digitisation and
2. Physical restoration of these invaluable intellectual properties.

Digitisation and restoration of rare, old and fragile Books, Maps and photographs at Raj Bhavan, Kolkata

With the advent of information and communication technology, it is now possible to digitize the entire collection of books, maps and photographs in the collection of the library. Under this project, as desired by the former Hon'ble Governor Shri Gopalkrishna Gandhi, it was decided that about 450 rare books of Pre-independence have been taken up for digitization and subsequently stored on DVD. Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, former Hon'ble Chief Minister of West Bengal on 15 August 2006, inaugurated the Digitization Project of Raj Bhavan Library and Record Room.

Till date about 394 books having 1,35,169 pages and 54 maps have been digitized. About 47, 113pages of Official records covering year 1932 to 1975 also scanned and digitized. Till date about 2711 photographs have been digitized.

Physical Restoration

Among this collection, about 124 books covering 28000 sheets (approx.) and one very rare map of Kolkata has been laminated and restored. All these books are bound. Apart from lamination, fragile books are fumigated in regular sequence.