A CONSULTING/PRESERVING MACHINE FOR MANUSCRIPTS: THE MALATESTIANA LIBRARY IN CESENA

The Malatestiana Library is in UNESCO’s Memories du Monde, because the architecture and manuscripts are the original XV century ones and they are in a state of perfect conservation. The strict relationship between the original architectural design, library management and microclimate, has allowed to reduce the damage of manuscripts, books and wood stalls, the same coming from the XV century. Nowadays, after 550 years, manuscripts and wood stalls are in perfect condition of conservation. In present paper we would like to put in evidence a fact: the majority of damage depends on mechanical action of manuscript consultation by readers, and does not depend on indoor microclimate factors (temperature, relative humidity). We argue that perfect conservation of manuscripts, books and wood stalls depends on two factors, on one hand the Library and manuscript loan management, on the other hand the specific microclimate conditions of the air inside the building. The study of the indoor microclimate infact, showed a stict connection between temperature and relative humidity (RH) constant trend balance, compared to outdoor climate variations. The constant trend value of temperature and RH creates perfect conditions against ground humidity in winter and summer for the conservation of manuscripts and wood stalls.