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Otfl thomas2012
This document discusses various aspects of collections care for paper-based materials in libraries. It defines key terms like preservation, conservation, and collections care. It outlines approaches like benign neglect, environmental controls, disaster planning, and education. It provides tips for minor repairs and conservation. It discusses how to find training resources and pay for professional help. The overall message is that collections care requires planning, education, basic repairs and controls, as well as occasional professional assistance.
Otfl thomas2012
- 1. Collections Care forthe Real World Lynne M. Thomas Northern Illinois University March 14, 2012
- 2. Preservation vs. Conservationvs. Collections Care • Conservators = expertise/training in hands-on book/paper/art repair • Preservation librarians = expertise/training in determining needs for conservators, basic book repairs, prevention, disaster plan, etc. • Preservation administrators = plan, find money to fund the preservation librarians and conservators • Collections care = How do we keep this in use?
- 3. Preservation “expertise” for Paper-BasedMaterials Environmental Controls Staff & Patron Education Benign Neglect Basic Library Preservation
- 4. The Beauty of“Benign Neglect” • Stabilize it, shelve it, ignore it. • “Benign neglect” often does the trick – Paper & Microfilm • …Except when it doesn’t – Audiovisual materials – The Digital Age
- 5. Environmental Controls • Turnoff the lights! • Keep your temperature and humidity as stable as possible • Be nice to your building services folks • Understand your building (and have a plan for when it breaks).
- 6. Disaster Plans • HAVEONE. You will need it eventually. • Free Disaster Planning Tool: dPlan http://www.dplan.org/ • “I think we have insurance” does not count. • Supplies: Gaylord.com; home improvement stores
- 7. Staff and PatronEducation • Model good behavior • Shelve and Unshelve properly • Photocopying and scanning practices • Don’t make temporary additions to books permanent: (post-its, paper and paperclips and rubberbands, oh my!)
- 8. Sometimes, You Win •Patron and Staff education – Bookmarks – Signs – Halloween Horror Show (exhibit or online) – Rainy Day Bags – Policies, procedures, and plans: HAVE SOME.
- 9. Sometimes, You Lose •Mold • Tape • Mishandling • Lack of replacement funds • Degredation of materials (i.e. brittle books, vinegar syndrome)
- 10. Sometimes, It Rains.Indoors. • Disasters • Bathtub Dunks • Act of Dog • Library Cafes • “Deferred maintenance”
- 11. Collections Care: Paper Stabilization:The most bang for your buck – Tying/Boxing – Envelopes – Encapsulation – The magic words: “lignin-free” “alkaline” “buffered”
- 12. Collections Care: Paper •Minor Repairs – Glueing – Tipping-in of single leaves – TAPE = EVIL • Medium Repairs – Spine repair – Reattaching boards
- 13. How do I…? •Search YouTube for how-to videos • CARLI Preservation Working Group workshops • Preservation webliography: http://www.carli.illinois.edu/mem-serv/pres- weblio.html • http://www.campbellcenter.org/ (Mt. Carroll, IL)
- 14. Calling in theprofessionals • Major repairs: re-backing, re-binding, re- casing • Full conservation treatment: don’t try this at home! • Finding a conservator – American Institute for Conservation (AIC) guidelines: http://aic.stanford.edu/public/select.html
- 15. How do Ipay for this? • Find a donor/sponsor or a Friend • Talk to your administration • Get a grant – IMLS http://www.imls.gov/ – NEH Preservation assistance grants http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/pag.html – NEH Grants for Stabilizing Humanities Collections http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/stabilization.html – Guide to Foundation Grants for Preservation http://www.loc.gov/preserv/foundtn-grants.html – Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board (ISHRAB) grants: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/ishrab/ishrab.html
- 16. When it’s gone…it’sgone • You can’t save everything. Really. (And that’s ok.) • Can it be replaced if it can’t be repaired? • Alternative formatting – Preservation photocopies – Digitization
- 17. Questions? • lmthomas@niu.edu • http://lynnemthomas.com •Twitter: @lynnemthomas