Introduction to Preservation LIS2214 Spring About this Class Welcome! A bit about the instructor Class logistics (insert usual discussion about the syllabus, guest lecturers, fast track weekend, and other related stuff) About this Class Assignments AssignmentPoints Assignment #1: Current Topics in Preservation15 points Assignment #2: Exhibit Assessment 10 points Assignment #3: Research Project and Paper 50 points Peer Assessment20 points Weekly Quizzes10 points each (140 total) Exercises and class participation (includes discussion board)20 points Total: 255 points Overview of Preservation What problems have You observed that might be associated with preservation challenges? Size and formats Creators intent Materials employed Publishers did not intend books to circulate many times Brittleness of paper A Few of My Thoughts : Responsibility for Preservation: There are four concepts which are essential to understand in library and archival preservation. Four Concepts: 1.Not everything needs to be saved. Four Concepts: 1.Not everything needs to be saved. 2.Not everything that is old is valuable to a collection What value would this have? Four Concepts: 1.Not everything needs to be saved. 2.Not everything that is old is valuable to a collection 3.Preservation can be done by degrees Four Concepts: 1.Not everything needs to be saved. 2.Not everything that is old is valuable to a collection 3.Preservation can be done by degrees 4.A library or archive cannot afford to ignore preservation Definitions: How would you define the following? Preservation Conservation Restoration Reconstruction Archives Special Collections Manuscript Preservation Has gone through many definitions. Depending on who/ what you do for a living, preservation may have different meanings. Here are a few that Ive found useful for librarians and archivists. Preservation Pamela Darling: Urged precise terminology in discussing preservation and conservation However, still defined the term in relation to conservation Paul Conway: All managerial and financial considerations including storage and accommodation provisions, staffing levels, policies, techniques, and methods involved in preserving library and archival materials. Preservation Richard Pearce-Moses n. ~ 1. The professional discipline of protecting materials by minimizing chemical and physical deterioration and damage to minimize the loss of information and to extend the life of cultural property. 2. The act of keeping from harm, injury, decay, or destruction, especially through noninvasive treatment. 3. Law The obligation to protect records and other materials potentially relevant to litigation and subject to discovery. preserve, v. ~ 4. To keep for some period of time; to set aside for future use. See: Pearce-Moses, Richard. A Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology. Chicago: Society of American Archivists Conservation: AIC (American Institute for Conservation) All actions aimed at safe guarding cultural property for the future. Paul Conway: Conservation is intervention. Specific policies and practices involved in protecting library and archival materials including methods and techniques devised by technical staff. Conservation: Richard Pearce-Moses: n. ~ 1. The repair or stabilization of materials through chemical or physical treatment to ensure that they survive in their original form as long as possible. 2. The profession devoted to the preservation of cultural property for the future through examination, documentation, treatment, and preventive care, supported by research and education. Notes Conservation1 counters existing damage, as distinguished from preservation2, which attempts to prevent damage. Conservation does not always eliminate evidence of damage; restoration includes techniques to return materials to their original appearances (which may include fabrication of missing pieces). However, conservation2 is often used to include preservation1 activities. Restoration Modification of existing materials and structures of a cultural property to represent a known earlier state. Pearce-Moses: n. ~ The process of rehabilitating an item to return it as nearly as possible to its original condition. Notes Restoration may include fabrication of missing parts with modern materials, but using processes and techniques that are similar to those originally used to create the item. Restoration Image courtesy: Reconstruction Re-creation of cultural property or part thereof, based upon factual evidence but on little or no original material in order to promote an understanding of an earlier state or condition of cultural property. Sample from Archives (also archive), n. ~ 1. Materials created or received by a person, family, or organization, public or private, in the conduct of their affairs and preserved because of the enduring value contained in the information they contain or as evidence of the functions and responsibilities of their creator, especially those materials maintained using the principles of provenance, original order, and collective control; permanent records. Special Collections The term special collections has been used in North American libraries in many different ways. One of the more restricted uses designates special collections as rare books, generally dating from the dawn of European printing to some point in the 19th century, with the addition of rare editions and special printings of a later date, often known as the book arts. More often the term is used to include manuscripts, archival collections of mixed format including prints, drawings and photographs, and graphic materials such as maps, theatrical publications, pamphlets, advertizing and posters, and sometimes newspapers, which were not published in book form. Manuscript n. (ms, abbr.) ~ 1. A handwritten document. 2. An unpublished document. 3. An author's draft of a book, article, or other work submitted for publication. History of Preservation Early Story China (13 century) Utilized traditional repairs such as: Paper Repairs Pasted paper behind the old document and a scribe matched the calligraphy. Saving the information not necessarily the paper. Storage Protection Clamping boards found from south China. 3 sided boards, allowed for ventilation in prevention of mold growth Fragrant wood Keep insects away. United States 1876 Documented concern for fire prevention. Consideration for the qualities of building materials and library architecture. Awareness by famous librarians such as Melville Dewey for the need of preservation practices. Florence Flood In 1966 the Arno River flooded Florence Loss of great treasures including manuscripts and books Created awareness and concern the Arno River flooded Florence Loss of great treasures including manuscripts and books Created awareness and concern. Out of necessity, the best book and paper conservators learned a great deal about the physical nature of library and archival materials. Since 1966, they have developed a number of new techniques. Library of Congress Developed a new program in late After the Florence Flood, LC began to identify deteriorating titles within its collection and located copies in better condition in other American Libraries. Precursor to todays brittle book program. Other institutions followed: Yale, Newbery Library, NY Public, Columbia, Berkeley. Brittle Book Problem Abbreviated version: Brittleness is a condition common books printed between 1840 and The papers in these volumes contain the seeds of their own destruction. Until the mid-19 th century, paper was generally made of cotton rags. In the 1840s a manufacturing process was discovered that could produce paper more cheaply from a variety of sources including wood pulp. This process left an acidic content in the paper. This acid generally breaks down the fibers from which the paper is made. And, with sufficient time, this paper will become so brittle that it will break when the pages are turned. What library or archival activities do you consider to be preservation? Preservation impacts all areas All institutions need to undertake basic preservation. Not only just largest or wealthier institutions. Any institution can conduct preservation activities but many of them do it poorly. Overall integration of preservation in the library or archive. Role of librarian or archivist in preservation Provide various levels of expertise related to types of collections. Advocacy, leadership, and education. Identifying worthy subjects or collections. Preservation expertise. Help integrate preservation into an institutional setting. Other Concepts Informational content can be preserved without maintaining the original physical object of virtual form. All collections, not just rare books and manuscripts, need a preservation plan. Example: Paperbacks in a public library. How many circulations do you want? Major Players CLIR Council of Library and Information Resources NEH National Endowment for the Humanities RLG Research Libraries Group ALA American Library Association SAA Society of American Archivists AIC American Institute of Conservators Guild of Bookworkers Standards Organization: ISO International Organization for Standardization ANSI American National Standards Organization NISO National Information Standards Organization