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Preventive
Preservation
While there is always demand for preservation attention
to single item needs, be it reformatting, rebinding,
or conservation treatment, there is an equal need to
protect entire collections from unnecessary damage and
premature deterioration. These preventive measures include:
providing a sound, stable, and secure environment for
collection storage; maintaining SULAIR's collection
emergency and recovery plan; assisting with collection
moves; and offering preservation education for staff
and patrons.
Environment
The
environment in which collections are stored has a direct
impact on their longevity. It is well known that high
levels of heat, humidity, or light will greatly increase
the deterioration of library materials. Preservation
staff establish environmental specifications for specific
library storage areas and media. Using data loggers
that record temperature and humidity, the Department
monitors collection areas and works closely with Facilities
staff to maintain a stable environment. The Preservation
Department is currently participating in an important
international field trial conducted by the Image Permanence
Institute to test a sophisticated environmental monitoring
instrument.
It
is important that collections are stored in an environment
free of pests and dirt. Good housekeeping together with
restrictions on food and drink in library collection
storage, processing, and reading areas, go a long way
toward discouraging the presence of insects as does
monitoring collection areas for pests on a regular basis.
Library
materials are particularly susceptible to damage caused
by light. The active exhibition program in the Bing
Wing's Peterson Gallery and Munger Rotunda requires
that Conservation staff work closely with SULAIR exhibition
staff to protect library materials from stress imparted
by their display. Similarly, when materials are requested
by another institution to be loaned for exhibition,
Conservation staff assist Special Collections staff
overseeing the loan by evaluating the institution's
facilities and assessing whether the condition of a
requested item or items is strong enough to withstand
travel and exhibition.
Whenever
a portion of the Library undergoes renovation, or when
a new library or collection storage area is constructed,
Preservation staff assist Facilities staff by providing
environmental guidelines for HVAC and lighting as well
as input on selection of shelving and other building
materials.
Emergency
Preparedness and Response
Sadly,
in times past, the Library's collections have been subjected
to damage by flooding, so we know from experience how
important it is to be prepared should an emergency strike
in the form of fire, flood, or earthquake. Measures
are in place throughout SULAIR to ensure a quick response
to any collection emergency: collection areas are fitted
with fire suppression systems; library units are outfitted
with emergency supplies; and the Preservation Department
maintains the Collections Emergency Response Manual
which includes a call list, technical information about
recovery of collections by media type, and a list of
local and national resources to call upon in an emergency.
Among
the Preservation Department's array of facilities is
a large freezer that serves two critical purposes: 1)
It is used in the recovery of books and other paper-based
materials subjected to water-related disasters; and
2) It is employed when materials are discovered to be
infested with pests, such as silverfish. Freezing temperatures
destroy the damage-causing creatures and their larvae.
To
learn more about emergency response procedures at SULAIR,
see Disaster Preparation and
Response.
Collection
Moves
The
Library's collections are dynamic; as the collections
grow and develop, large quantities of materials are
frequently relocated. In order to minimize the impact
of these changes on the materials, we collaborate with
SULAIR staff throughout the organization to plan and
implement collection moves, such as the recent relocation
of the East Asian Library from the Hoover Institution
to Meyer Library.
Staff
and Patron Education
Library
staff and patrons share the responsibility with Preservation
and Facilities staff for ensuring long-term access to
SULAIR's collections. The goal of preservation education
is to raise awareness about the causes of deterioration
to collection materials in all formats and to recommend
individual actions to reduce or eliminate harm to collections.
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