LANZHOU,Jan.23(Xinhua)--Withapairoftweezersandabrushinhand,YaoJiadi,a35-year-oldspecialistinrestoringancientbooks,delicatelynavigatedthroughdamagedpagestomendthefragmentedgaps.Onhertable,pens,brushes,needlesandothertoolswereneatlylaidout,alongsideancientbooksinneedofrestoration.Somebookswereasstiffasbricks,whileotherswereasthinascicadawings.Withtheiruniquetechniques,restorerssubstantiallyextendthelifespanofancientbooksandrevitalizetheseculturaltreasures.In2008,restorationtechniquesforancientbookswerelistedasanationalintangibleculturalheritage.ForYao,whoworksatTianshuiLibraryinnorthwestChina'sGansuProvince,ancientbookrestorationisbothaconversationwiththepastandaraceagainsttime."Restoringancientbooksislikeperformingamicro-levelsurgeryonthem.Itrequirespreoperativediagnosisandplanning,"Yaosaid.Beforerestoration,sheandhercolleagueswouldconductcomprehensiveinspectionsandanalysesoftheancientbooks.Basedonthespecificconditionsofeachbook,theyformulatetargetedrestorationplanstoaddressvariouskindsofdamage,suchasinsectormousebites,mold,andadhesion.Afteroversixyearsofwork,shestillvividlyrecallsthefirsteverbooksherestored."Therewerenotmanypagesinthebook,buteverypagewascoveredinmud.Manypagesweredamaged,andthecoverandbookmarkswerestucktogether,"shesaid.Afteroveramonthofmeticulousrestoration,theancientbooknowlooksasgoodasnew.Ancientbookrestorationinvolvesover20intricateprocesses.Whenencounteringinterestingcontentintheancientbooks,restorerswouldoftentemporarilysetasidetheirworktoengageinalivelydiscussion.LiDonghui,deputydirectorofTianshuiLibrary,isaninheritorofancientbookrestorationtechniques.Heemphasizedthatancientbookrestorationisnotmerelyamechanicaltaskbutajobthatrequiresknowledgeinrelateddisciplinesandacertainlevelofcreativity.Withabackgroundinfinearts,Lihasapassionforbookbinding.HeoncerestoredafragileancientbookfromtheMingDynasty(1368-1644)byaddingwhitericepaperbetweenpagestoprotectthem,acreativebindingmethod."IcherishancientbookslikeIcherishmyownchildren.Thesenseofresponsibilitytoprotectthemandthesenseofaccomplishmentinrestoringthemarethesourcesofmypassionforwork,"Lisaid.Sinceanational-levelprojecttoprotectancientChinesebookswaslaunchedin2007,sixcatalogsofnationalpreciousancientbookshavebeenreleased.About13,000ancientbookswereonthelist,includingfivehousedinTianshuiLibrary.Today,ancientbookrestorersacrossChinaareexploringnewwaystorevitalizeancientbooks,withdigitizationemergingasacrucialmeanstobalancepreservationandutilization.Inrecentyears,TianshuiLibrarycompletedthedigitizationandreproductionoftwopreciousancientbooks,achievingthedualgoalsofpreservationandutilizationoftheancienttreasures.Editor:DisclaimerTheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseoftheauthor's,GMW.cnmakesnorepresentationsastoaccuracy,suitability,orvalidityofanyinformationonthissiteandwillnotbeliableforanyerrors,omissions,ordelaysinthisinformation.