Preserving Manuscripts in the Al Aqib Library, Sankoré Mosque of Timbuktu

The Al-Aqib Library at the Sankoré Mosque in Timbuktu holds a unique collection of manuscripts, which remained in Timbuktu during the armed attacks of 2012. In a project implemented by AMALIA and the Sankoré library personnel, the collection’s storage conditions were upgraded. A climate-controlled laboratory and storage area were installed on site while the manuscripts underwent emergency conservation works (drying, cleaning, and light restorations) before being safely stored in made-to-measure boxes. The Al-Aqib collection is also part of a digitization project led by the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library (HMML) and a research project coordinated by the University of Hamburg.