Rescuing the Books of Al-Jazzar

Photo: Maria Luisa Russo

The al-Jazzar Mosque of Akka still houses parts of a significant collection most of which is now spread around the globe. But the local holdings are at risk. Funded by the ALIPH Foundation, the CSMC is carrying out a project to create the conditions for the long-term preservation of the collection.

The al-Jazzar library is located in a mosque in the northern Israeli port city of Akka. Today, the collection is in a critical condition. There are no adequate storage conditions for the early prints and handwritten archival materials on site; moreover, there is a lack of professionals who can ensure proper treatment of the documents. At present, these documents are in such a fragile state that doing research on them is not an option.

In 2023 and 2024, the CSMC carried out a preservation project in the library, which was funded by the ALIPH Foundation. The aim was, first and foremost, to stabilise the collection through effective immediate measures, such as dry cleaning and deacidification and setting up a suitable storage room. These activities fell under the remit of two trainees who were working in Akka on behalf of the CSMC. The project has a long-lasting impact. After the completion of the preservation project, the Mosque Endowment Board secured funds to renovate the historical library room in the Mosque complex to further improve storage conditions.