OFFICE OF COMMONWEALTH LIBRARIES

Transcription

1 OFFICE OF COMMONWEALTH LIBRARIES Beth Bisbano Library Development Advisor Bureau of Library Development Iren Snavely Rare Books Librarian Bureau of the State Library 1

2 PURPOSE Provide small libraries with some ideas about caring for historically significant materials in their collections. THE PATH Examine the Rare Collections Library at the PA State Library History of the collection The facility Type of materials How it is cared for 2

3 THE PATH Historical materials in your small library What do you have? Assess the situation How to stop the bleeding! PENNSYLVANIA STATE LIBRARY RARE COLLECTIONS History of the State Library Benjamin Franklin Assembly Collection 3

4 PENNSYLVANIA STATE LIBRARY RARE COLLECTIONS Types of materials Maps Books Ephemera Maps RARE MATERIALS 4

5 RARE MATERIALS Books Ephemera RARE MATERIALS 5

6 RARE MATERIALS How do we care for the rare collection? Housing Preservation Conservation OLD RARE BOOK FACILITY 6

7 OLD RARE BOOK FACILITY Poor Environment Humidity Temperature Lighting Dirt OLD RARE BOOK FACILITY Stacking Overcrowding 7

8 OLD RARE BOOK FACILITY Light Exposure Overlap Overlap Shelf Overlap OLD RARE BOOK FACILITY Environmental Poor Housing Usage 8

9 ASSESSMENT OF THE RARE COLLECTION Three issues that needed to be addressed: Environment (facility) Housing (shelving & containers) Access & Usage (safe) NEW RARE BOOKS FACILITY Climate Controlled Environment 9

10 NEW RARE BOOKS FACILITY Old Facility (No HVAC) Radiator Heat Window A/C Units Fluctuating Conditions New Facility Environmental Controls Constant Temperature Humidity % NEW RARE BOOKS FACILITY Spacing Low Lighting Air Flow 10

11 NEW RARE BOOKS FACILITY Flat Storage NEW RARE BOOKS FACILITY Low Lighting Proper Shelving & Protective Wrappings 11

12 10/18/2016 NEW RARE BOOKS FACILITY Oversized CONSERVATION BEFORE AFTER 12

13 COMPARE AND CONTRAST State Library Community Library SMALL LIBRARY HISTORICAL COLLECTION Where to Begin? 13

14 SMALL LIBRARY HISTORICAL COLLECTION Assessment: Environment Collection Storage Handling, usage practices Pests Security ENVIRONMENT 14

15 ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENT 15

16 TIPS Avoid spaces with noticeable fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Temperature = F Humidity = Below 55% TIPS Keep collection away from direct heat source. Use blinds or curtains to block direct light. 16

17 TIPS Limit fluorescent lighting. Turn lights off Filtered or special light fixtures Keep thermostat low during the winter months. Weather proof TIPS Use available space the best you can. Invest in a small thermometer (temp & humidity). Fluctuations are more damaging than high temperatures and humidity. Keep space clean. Insects and rodents can damage collections. Avoid food and drink in the collection space. 17

18 COLLECTIONS What do we have. COLLECTIONS Newspapers Clippings or complete issues Ephemera Pamphlets, Brochures, Posters Maps Photos Postcards Books Manuscript, diaries, records 18

19 COLLECTIONS NEWSPAPERS & CLIPPINGS Mid-19 th century onward inexpensive, machinemade, wood pulp paper. Not processed for longevity. Chemically unstable and acidic. Discolors and becomes brittle 19

20 NEWSPAPERS & CLIPPINGS NEWSPAPERS & CLIPPINGS What lies beneath? 20

21 NEWSPAPERS & CLIPPINGS TIPS Good stable environment. Supportive protective enclosures. Acid and lignin free buffered folders. Encapsulate Issue-size flat boxes with lids. Deacidification Buffer spray Does not reverse damage Re-apply 7 10 years May affect colored paper and inks 21

22 CLIP TIPS Scan the original if possible. Make photocopies on acid-free paper. Place original clips in acid-free polyester sleeves. Alternative interleave with acid-free buffered sheets or alkaline buffered tissue. Store in acid-free buffered boxes. NEWSPAPERS & CLIPPINGS Other materials Folded newspapers 22

23 NEWSPAPERS & CLIPPINGS Stuffed like a.. TIPS Organize and Stabilize No Spacer With Spacer 23

24 TIPS Acid free archival boxes. Don t use boxes that are too small. Avoid overfilling or under filling the box. Use spacer boards in document boxes if needed. Label the boxes. Create a finding aid. SCRAPBOOKS 24

25 SCRAPBOOKS circa 1937 SCRAPBOOKS Determine the importance of the contents. Decisions, decisions, decisions! Maintain Interleave with buffered material Dismantle To what degree? Photograph the organization Scan content Box 25

26 PHOTO ALBUMS/POSTCARDS PHOTO ALBUMS 26

27 PHOTO ALBUMS 27

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29 TIPS Same as scrapbooks. Enclosures for postcards Enclosures for photographs Box Inventory/finding aid OTHER DOCUMENTS 29

30 PAPERCLIPS CLIPS AND FOLDS circa

31 BOOKS PREVENT DAMAGE 31

32 10/18/2016 SHELVING TIPS Enclosures Box Polyester sleeve Envelopes Large enough for free in and out movement 32

33 STOP THE BLEEDING! 33

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