Library binding in the NDL dates back to 1933 when a bookbinding workshop staffed with six technicians was opened in the Imperial Library, NDL's predecessor, Binding of both Japanese and western-bound books was undertaken.
  In the 1980's the "slow fire" in libraries raised the question of what preservation was.
  In order to study the problems of the preservation of library resources, the Library set up seven ad hoc working groups in 1983 for studies of paper anti-acidification policy, deterioration prevention policies concerning xerox copying and bookworm-damage, and the preservation policies of materials in microform, magnetic tapes, phonographic records, and rare materials. The reports were submitted in 1984 presenting the problems and recommending countermeasures.
  On the occasion of the completion of the Annex Building in 1986, the Library had a reorganization which gave birth to the Preservation Planning Office to follow up the recommendations.
  In 1986 the Conservation Workshop was reorganized and renamed the Preservation Division in the Acquisitions Department. At the same time the Preservation Planning Office was set up in the same department. The last reorganization was due to increased awareness of the need for preservation and conservation.
  The Preservation Planning Office was managed by one senior librarian whose role is to coordinate preservation activities and undertake research and development. The Director of the Preservation Planning Office is also the Director of the IFLA PAC Regional Center for Asia.
  The Office consists of the Chief Officer, 16 plural-duty officers selected from all the related Departments, and some staff of the Preservation Division in charge of general affairs.
  At the of FY 2001 the Preservation Planning Office was phased out, and for greater efficiency, the new Preservation Division is taking on the role of the old Preservation Planning Office.

  The Preservation Division is manned by 13 conservation and binding specialists who repair and rebind annually more than 6,100 volumes of books and other materials --- Japanese and western, new and old. About 60,000 volumes of magazines and newspapers per year are bound by private binderies.
  The new Preservation Division, which took over the role of the former Preservation Planning Office, works for preservation in libraries at home and abroad in collaboration with the IFLA PAC Regional Center for Asia.

  674m² of the 1st floor of the Annex Building is allotted to the machine room and the workshop of Library staff and the inhouse contractor.

Mending with Japanese paper and shofu - nori (wheat starch paste)

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