Süleymaniye Kitap Şifahanesi

Süleymaniye Kitap Şifahanesi is a conservation center established to preserve, restore, digitize, and reintroduce to research manuscript and rare printed works under the auspices of the Directorate General of Turkish Manuscript Works, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The center undertakes the responsibility of safeguarding and sustaining the manuscript heritage dating back to the 10th century, including the Ottoman period.

The systematic restoration of manuscript works began in 1956 with the establishment of the “Binding and Pathology Unit” within the Süleymaniye Manuscript Library. This unit carried out the first restoration efforts on manuscript works over many years. The Süleymaniye Kitap Şifahanesi, founded in 2012, assumed this mission and moved into a new facility equipped with modern conservation laboratories. Operating within the historic building of the Süleymaniye Medical Madrasa, designed by Mimar Sinan, the şifahane functions as an institutional center that unites the historical tradition of the şifahane with contemporary scientific conservation principles.

^{Süleymaniye Kitap Şifahanesi (}T.C. İstanbul Valiliği⁾

Süleymaniye Kitap Şifahanesi operates in Istanbul under the Directorate General of Turkish Manuscript Works. The center houses conservation laboratories, chemical analysis units, biological examination labs, digital archiving rooms, and climate-controlled storage facilities. The team responsible for restoration consists of conservators, chemists, biologists, and specialists from various disciplines.

Each conservator is held accountable for the entire preservation process of the assigned work. This process includes photographing the item, conducting chemical and physical analyses, preparing reports, and documenting the restoration. The professional knowledge of staff is regularly updated through technical training programs organized by the Directorate General of Turkish Manuscript Works.

The restoration process begins with biological decontamination. Books are wrapped in cling film and stored at -40°C for 24 hours to eliminate insect larvae. Subsequently, conservators identify the physical, chemical, and biological deterioration of the item and develop a tailored conservation plan.

^{Yazma Eser Onarımı (}AA⁾

During conservation, natural adhesives that do not harm the item, plant-based pigments, and durable archival materials are used. Torn or missing paper sections are repaired with restoration paper, and pages discolored by acidification undergo neutralization. In binding restoration, leather or fabric materials matching the original texture are preferred.

Every stage of conservation is documented, and all records related to the item are archived through the Turkish Manuscript Works Information System (YEK-BİS). Restored books are placed in special boxes made of alkaline-buffered cardboard and returned to their respective libraries.

Manuscript works from the collections of the Süleymaniye Manuscript Library, Millet Manuscript Library, Istanbul Archaeology Museums Library, Ayasofya Museum Library, and Beyazıt Manuscript Library are restored at the şifahane. Particular priority is given to unique, undigitized manuscripts dating between the 10th and 12th centuries.

Manuscripts from before and after the Ottoman period, classical Turkish literary texts, treatises on history, geography, medicine, and astronomy, as well as Qur’an manuscripts written by Mamluk calligraphers, are also included in the restoration program. Additionally, rare printed books produced in the early period of printing, which exist in limited numbers, fall within the scope of preservation.

Restored items are stored in specialized, earthquake- and fire-resistant storage facilities. Designed with Istanbul’s seismic risk in mind, these storage areas maintain continuous monitoring of humidity and temperature. Periodic inspections, cleaning procedures, and environmental analyses ensure the long-term preservation of the works.

^{Yazma Eser Onarımı (}T.C. İstanbul Valiliği⁾

Protective boxes and packaging used for post-restoration storage are manufactured from acid-free, durable, and long-lasting archival materials, ensuring long-term protection against physical wear and environmental factors.

Digitization of restored works is one of the core activities of Süleymaniye Kitap Şifahanesi. This process aims to reduce physical handling of original items while facilitating access for scholarly research. Digital copies are made available to researchers through online platforms managed by the Directorate General of Turkish Manuscript Works.

Conservation practices at the şifahane are grounded in academic documentation. Scientific research is conducted on the condition assessments, material analyses, and restoration techniques of manuscripts sourced from libraries across Türkiye.

^{Yazma Eser Onarımı (}T.C. İstanbul Valiliği⁾

Laboratory research includes ink fixation methods, cellulose durability, pigment analysis, acid removal techniques, and leather material testing. The findings of these studies are vital for the preservation of manuscripts and the development of standardized restoration protocols.

Conservators and technical specialists working at Süleymaniye Kitap Şifahanesi participate in training programs organized both within the institution and at the national level. The Directorate General of Turkish Manuscript Works places special emphasis on cultivating qualified personnel and advancing expertise in the science of restoration. Within this framework, academic and practical training activities in conservation are continuously carried out.