PREVENTIVE CARE COURSE MATERIAL

Preservation: Identifying Problems and Solutions Facing Paper-Based Collections

(Updated 2/25/00) (Español)

A. PROBLEMS (Graphic)

Introduction: Recognizing Problems (quiz)

1. Use

Libraries
Archives
Museums
Research Institutions
Others (Private collections)
Teaching with Time Capsules
Specific Solutions
References (some libraries, archives and museums preservation departments)
Library of Congress (LC)
National Archives (NARA)
Smithsonian Institution (SI)
Smithsonian's Museum Conservation Institute (MCI)
National Park Service (NPS)
National Park Service Handbook
Getty Conservation Institute (GCI)
Art History Links
     Book Art Links
History Links (Documents; Ancient art)
Organizations
     Conservation Online (CoOL)
     American Institute for Conservation of Art and Historic Works (AIC)
     International Center for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM)
     European Commission on Preservation and Access (ECPA)
          European Preservation Map

2. Value

Informational value
Evidential value
Intrinsic value
Aesthetic value
Market value
Research value
Others (Associational value)
Specific Solutions
References

3. Risk (Risk reduction functions)

4. Substrates (Component nature and deterioration; paper making history and properties; scientific analysis, teaching with paper-making)

Stable hand-made paper (for example, some papers made of stable cotton or linen/flax fibers)
Unstable machine-made paper (for example, some papers of ground or chemical wood pulp fibers)
Unstable additives (such as some sizes and bleaches)
Others
Specialty papers (such transparent and coated)
Specific solutions
References
Background: paper and other document substrates
- Forerunners to paper (illustrations of clay tablets, parchment, papyrus, pith, etc )
- Definition of paper (what is and is not paper)
- Paper Chemistry (periodic table, organic chemistry webcourse, cellulose fundamentals, introduction to structures, example structures, cellulose chemistry, cellulose and starch molecules [graphic], lignin, hemicellulose [graphic], microbial cellulose [graphic], Spanish/English, microbial paper (1) (2), cellulose biosynthesis [graphic], other chemistry links, other pulp and paper links)
- History of paper (general, Dard Hunter, paper historian)
  - Asian hand-made paper (invention of paper and illustration; washi)
  - Western hand-made paper (spread of papermaking to Europe and
    US)
  - Machine-made paper (history, modern paper machine [graphic], modern paper mills, recycled paper)
- Process of papermaking (general)

Furnish materials (fibers, mechanical woodpulp, chemical woodpulp, additives, sizes, dyes and pigments)
Formation procedures (papermaking moulds, watermarks collections (Gravell) [graphic], chiaroscuro watermarks [graphic], grain direction, beating, drying, embossing)

Specialty papers: modern

Deterioration of paper substrates
Other links: publications, Forest Products Industry, ASTM

5. Media (Component nature and deterioration; scientific analysis)

Friable graphite
Cracking Paint
Fugitive colors
Soluble inks
Oily and acidic media
Others
Prints
Terms
Iron gall ink
Photographs (LC, IFLA)
Specific Solutions
References (Special media)

6. Formats (Component nature and deterioration)

Sheets
Folios
Bound volumes (LC, scrapbooks and albums)
Others
Specific Solutions
References

7. External Factors of Deterioration

Light
Temperature
Relative humidity
Pollution
Pests
Handling, Storage and Display
Handling
Fasteners
Housing Techniques and Materials
Cleaners
Tapes and Adhesives
Others
Specific Solutions
References
Deterioration

Conclusion, credits and references

B. SOLUTIONS (Graphic) (Mandarin - Graphic; Text [this needs a Chinese software program to view properly]) (Mongolian - Graphic)(Urdu - Graphic)(Portuguese - Graphic)(Shona - Graphic)

Introduction : Developing Solutions
AIC's Introduction to care of works on paper

1. Preservation management: planning and administration (Examples of mission statements)

Assessments (nature of collections, materials, surveys; surveys on collections, risk, housing, treatment, etc.)
Examples:
a. Survey forms for preservation prioritization of multiple collections
(worksheet, summary form, Calipr for libraries)
b. Computerized random sampling for condition and housing of single collections
c. Check-list form for condition of multiple items
d. Condition and treatment proposal form
Policy (Columbia University, NMAH Archives Center)
Standards and practice (ethics, standards for photographs)
Processing and storage resources (graphic)
Research and conservation resources
AIC definitions
Personnel resources
Financial resources and marketing
Sources
Fund raising
Other topics and examples
Case Study: Angels Project to Save the Dinosaurs
Characterizing & Preserving Paper-Based Artifacts in the Digital Age
Identification of documents based on stylistic, historical and scientific analysis
Model of a 5 year plan (Archives Association)
Preventive care initiatives
References
Documentation
     Suppliers
     Conserve O Grams
     Funding
Internet resources
Special media
Security
     Health and Safety
     Information Surveys
     Additional References

2. Preservation duplication/reformatting

Preservation photocopying (LC, vendors)
Preservation photography
Preservation negatives
Preservation color transparencies
Preservation microfilming
Preservation digitization
Cool/cold storage
Other topics and examples
Selection criteria
Preservation processing (graphic)
Duplication formats
Document substrates, media, and formats
Document types
Media types (1) (2)
Deterioration terms
Deterioration actions
Enclosure selection (options checklist)
Enclosure supply list
History of paper time line
Definition of original and duplicate formats
Guidelines for preservation duplication
References
Reprographics
Microfilming
Photo duplication
Digitization
Preservation & digitization: The O.C. Marsh dinosaur illustrations
Cool/cold storage

3. Environmental control (General information: LC, HFMGV, MNHS, General)

Light
Temperature
Relative humidity
Integrated pest management
Pollution control
Storage (enclosures, folders, containers, furniture)
Disaster preparedness (General information); (graphic); (Worksheet for Outlining a Disaster Plan)
Exhibition and display
Other topics and examples
Guidelines for light levels for display
Guidelines for housing and environmental options for display
Guidelines for housing and environment options for storage
Sealed package design, photo corners, hinging, book bands
Guidelines for unframing and framing procedures
Guidelines for display installation and dismantling
Guidelines for researchers
References
Disasters: Tsai, Fei-Wen, and Dianne van der Reyden. "Disaster Preparedness - Prevention, Response and Recovery Procedures for Water-Based Emergencies: Paper-Based and Magnetic Media Materials," Preprints and postprints of The Symposium on the Conservation and Preservation of Cultural Properties, Taiwan, 1996, pp. 462-498.
Disaster prevention and recovery; SIA; NEDCC; AIC; LC [graphic], LC publications online
Disaster Primer in English
Integrated pest management
Integrated pest management check list
Mold
Supply vendors
Environmental monitoring, etc.

4. Collections maintenance (processing graphic)

Housing (options checklist, procedures, graphic of non-adhesive housing systems)
General Examples:
Polyester film pockets
Polyester film l-weld
Window matting (LC graphic)
Acid-free folder
Acid-free four flap enclosure
Alkaline document box for vertical storage
Alkaline print box for flat storage
Specific Examples:
Photograph housing (IFLA), cold storage (NARA)
Records and tapes (LC)
Cylinder recordings (LC)
Motion picture film (LC)
Shelving bound volumes (NARA)
Handling (graphic of fastener removal, surface cleaning, and humidification and flattening options), Holdings maintenance procedures, NMAH Archives
Other topics and examples
Factors to consider before starting collection maintenance
Preparation of work area, materials and supplies
Housing descriptions (graphic)
Preservation do's and don'ts checklist
Collection maintenance procedures
Correlation among document size, container, and duplication options
Example of processing steps (graphic)
Example of condition problems
References
Collections care for paper, books, leather, photographs, sound recordings, etc.: LC, AIC, HFMGV, MNHS, General, Tips
Holdings maintenance procedures
Commercial services, Articles

5. Conservation treatment (graphic of treatment categories) (graphic of laboratory floor plan) (general)

Surface cleaning
Accretion removal
Cleaning, neutralizing, resizing
Mending
Lining
Humidifying and flattening
Other topics and examples
Lab and supplies layouts
Batch treatments
References
NEDCC
CCI
AIC-BPG
MNHS
Library binding
Mass deacidification

6. Preservation research (graphic of analytical techniques)

Imaging techniques
Magnification
Microscopy
Elemental analysis
Properties measurement (ASTM Standards , TAPPI, ANSI)
Other topics and examples
Research design
Tracing and pigment coated paper characterizations
Some procedures for sampling and identifying fibers and adhesives using microchemical spot testing
References (General)
Scientific Tools at a Glance
LC publications online
Book and Paper Group
AIC
ASTM
Forest Products Links
Institute of Paper Science and Technology
National Paperbox Association
Miscellaneous articles

7. Preservation training

Preservation management
Preservation duplication
Environmental control
Collections maintenance
Conservation treatment
Preservation research
Preservation training
References
Preservation Principles for Paper-Based Collections: Fundamentals and future directions in a digital world (ICCROM/SCMRE course); Course calendar (see 28 June - 6 August 1999)
RELACT Orientation Information
National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT)
Education and training programs
Examples of library & archives preservation syllabi
Preventive Conservation Strategies for Paper-Based Collections
Characterizing & Preserving Paper-Based Artifacts in the Digital Age
Internet-based Multidisciplinary Science Curriculum
IT training

For more information, please contact Dianne van der Reyden, Senior Paper Conservator, SCMRE.