The repair of ancient books is a cultural activity of great significance. Prior to the actual restoration, a lot of care needs to be taken to determine the historical background of the book, to analyze the cause of decay and to think about the level of restoration to the book’s original physical status. At the same time, the readability of the book to library readers should be considered to some extent. Based on principles of “minimal”, “reversible ” and “identifiable” types of intervention, some protective restoration methods that might be applied to a Qing dynasty volume in the Central National Library of Italy were explored. The methods applied in the restoration process include paper deacidification, wetcleaning of surfaces, stiffening, repair of lacunae, rebinding, case making and preservation of the original binding line that has to be removed. Those methods are aimed at preserving the maximum faithfulness as well as the maximum culturalhistorical significance of the book. This study describes some new methods and some new thoughts for colleagues in China.