Preservation And Conservation For Libraries And Archives

236 Pages·2005·5.26 MB·English

by  Nelly Balloffet

PRESERVATION
and
CON S E RVAT ION
Libraries Archives
for and
Nelly Balloffet
Jenny Hille
PRESERVATION
and
CONSERVATION
Libraries Archives
for and

PRESERVATION
and
CONSERVAT ION
Libraries Archives
for and
Nelly Balloffet
and
Jenny Hille
Judith Reed, Technical Editor
Jenny Hille, Illustrator
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
Chicago 2005
While extensive effort has gone into ensuring the reliability of
information appearing in this book,the publisher makes no war-
ranty,express or implied,on the accuracy or reliability ofthe
information,and does not assume and hereby disclaims any liabil-
ity to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omis-
sions in this publication.
Photographs by Nelly Balloffet,Gwen Denny,and/or Jenny Hille,
with technical help from Cristina B.Carr,Harald Hille,and Liza
Wallis (unless otherwise noted)
Trademarked names appear in the text ofthis book.Rather than
identify or insert a trademark symbol at the appearance ofeach
name,the authors and the American Library Association state that
the names are used for editorial purposes exclusively,to the ulti-
mate benefit ofthe owners ofthe trademarks.There is absolutly
no intention ofinfringement on the rights ofthe trademark
owners.
Composition, cover,and text design by ALA Editions
Printed on 50-pound natural offset,a pH-neutral stock,and
bound in Arrestox B cloth by McNaughton-Gunn
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum require-
ments ofAmerican National Standard for Information Sciences—
Permanence ofPaper for Printed Library Materials,ANSI Z39.48-
1992. ∞
Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Balloffet,Nelly.
Preservation and conservation for libraries and archives /
Nelly Balloffet and Jenny Hille ;Judith Reed,technical editor ;
Jenny Hille,illustrator.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8389-0879-9 (alk.paper)
1.Library materials—Conservation and restoration—
Handbooks,manuals,etc. 2.Archival materials—
Conservation and restoration—Handbooks,manuals,etc.
3.Library materials—Storage—Handbooks,manuals,etc.
4.Archival materials—Storage—Handbooks,manuals,etc.
5.Paper—Preservation—Handbooks,manuals,etc.6.Books—
Conservation and restoration—Handbooks,manuals,etc.
7.Library exhibits—Handbooks,manuals,etc. 8.Archives—
Exhibitions—Handbooks,manuals,etc. I.Hille,Jenny.
II.Reed,Judith A. III.Title.
Z701.B234 2004
025.8'4—dc22 2003062371
Copyright © 2005 by the American Library Association.All rights
reserved except those which may be granted by Sections 107 and
108 ofthe Copyright Revision Act of1976.
Printed in the United States ofAmerica
09 08 07 06 05 5 4 3 2 1
Dedicated to
Judy Reed,
dear friend
and gentle
gadfly

Contents
Foreword xi Book Storage in Libraries 21
Preface xiii
Book Storage in Archives 23
Acknowledgments xv
Document Storage 23
Introduction xvii
Storage ofLarger Items 24
Roll Storage 24
Framed Art Storage 25
Section 1
Off-Site Storage Spaces 26
The Basics of Preservation 1
Attics,Barns,and Other Unheated Spaces 27
Environment 2
Summary ofBasic Preservation Measures 27
Temperature and Humidity 2
Procedures to Avoid 27
Heating,Ventilation,and Air Conditioning
Work Flow Charts 29
(HVAC) 3
Coping with Old HVAC Systems 4
Cold Storage 5
Monitoring Environmental Conditions 5
Section 2
Light 7
Getting Started: Work Space,
Maintenance and Housekeeping 9
Equipment, Tools, and Techniques 32
Education 10
Setting Up a Work Area for Preservation
Basic Rules for Using Research Materials 10
Activities 33
StaffTraining 11
Dedicated Space 33
Patron Education 11
Lighting and Environment 35
Disaster Planning and Response 12
Storage 35
Evacuation ofPatrons and Staff 12
Office Area 36
Contingency Arrangements during
Equipment 36
an Emergency 12
Collection Priorities 12 Cutters 36
General Assessment or Survey 12 Presses 40
Compile a Disaster Plan 13 Boards,Pressing Boards 43
Construction and Renovations 14 Hand Tools 45
Water Emergencies:The Importance Working Tips 45
ofQuick Action 16
Measuring 45
Failure ofHVAC System 16
Grain Direction 46
Mold 17
Cutting and Trimming 49
Disaster Recovery 19
Scoring and Folding 50
Storage Methods 20 Using Adhesives 52
Storage Furniture 20 General Working Tips 53
vii
Section 3 Hand Tools 81
Simple Preservation Techniques: Equipment 81
Other Supplies 81
Rehousing Library and Archive
Materials 54 Techniques for Handling Paper 82
Preparing Materials before Putting Them into
Rehousing Library and Archive Materials 55
Enclosures 82
Determining What Materials Need
Picking Up and Moving Large Flat Items 87
Rehousing 55
Paper Repair Techniques 88
Preliminary Stages 55
Counting;Ordering Supplies 56 Tearing Japanese Paper 88
Cleaning Materials 56 Undoing (Reversing) Repairs Made with Paste
or Methylcellulose 89
Storage Containers (Preservation Enclosures) 57
Mending Edge Tears 89
Enclosures 57
Repairing Holes and Missing Corners 90
Archival? Acid-Free? 58
Attaching Hinges to Pages 91
Testing New and Old Folders and Boxes
Mending Torn Pages in Books 93
with a pH Pen 59
Mending Tears in Foldout Maps 93
Selecting and Adapting Ready-Made
Products 60
Handling Certain Types ofMaterials 61
Section 5
Scrapbooks and Albums 61
Photographic Materials 61 Book Conservation Techniques 94
Maps,Posters,Architectural Photo-
BriefReview ofBookbinding Structure and
reproductions 62
Terminology 95
Making Simple Enclosures 64
Parts ofa Book 95
Map Folders 64
Techniques for Handling Books 100
Self-Closing Wrappers:Protection
Removing a Book from the Shelf 100
for Books 65
Call Number Flags 100
Barrier Sheets;Interleaving 70
Opening a Book 101
Polyester Encapsulation 71
Supporting Fragile Books 101
Polyester Dust Jackets 72
Packing and Moving Books 102
Supplies and Equipment Needed for Book
Repairs 103
Section 4
Adhesives 103
Paper Conservation Techniques 75
Cloth 104
Overview ofWestern and Japanese Paper 76 Western and Japanese Papers 105
Characteristics ofWestern Papers 76 Boards 105
Characteristics ofJapanese Papers 77 Thread 105
Testing Paper for Grain Direction 78 Hand Tools 106
Testing pH 78 Equipment 107
Photographs 79 Other Supplies 107
Supplies and Equipment Needed for Paper Book Repair Techniques 107
Repairs 79
Simple Repairs between the Covers 107
Repair Papers 79 Simple Repairs to the Case 119
Adhesives 79 Repairs to the Text Block and the Case 126
CONTENTS
viii
Pamphlets 144 Preparing Books for Exhibition 170
Children’s Books 147 Simplest Supports 171
Book Wedges 171
Section 6 Polyester-Film Book Supports 178
Small Exhibitions 149 Preventing Distortion 179
Exhibiting Books as Museum Objects 180
Designing the Exhibition with Conservation
in Mind 150 Closing the Show 181
Environment in the Gallery 150 Removing Materials from the Exhibit 181
Length ofthe Exhibition 154 Storage ofExhibit Materials 182
Security 154 Think Ahead to the Next Show 182
Insurance 154
Lending and Borrowing 154
Condition Reports 155 Appendixes
Mounting an Exhibition 158 A Care ofPhotographs 183
Exhibit Cases 158 B Suppliers,Conservation Binders, and Salvage
Exhibiting Flat Paper Items 161 Companies 192
Use Facsimiles Whenever Possible 161 C Sources ofHelp and Advice 196
Rotating Exhibits 162 D Glossary 199
Relaxing Rolled Materials 162
E Bibliography 204
Handling Large Materials 162
Folded Documents 163 Index 209
Mounting,Hinging,Matting,Framing 163
Window Mats 163
Mounting Artwork or Documents 166
Framing 169
CONTENTS
ix