Preservation planning: the big picture and the

small picture

By Heidi Rees, M.A., M.L.I.S.Acting Head, Government

Collections and Library Systems, Manitoba Legislative

Library

What does preservation look like?

Old books and documentsOld, rare books and documents

FoliosLatex or cotton gloves

Masks

The Big Picture: Planning at the Collection Level

Formal direction Library mandate Client-focused planning Selection and withdrawal

House of Lords

Journals

• Formal direction

• Library mandate

• Client-focused planning

• Selection and withdrawal

Birds Hill Provincial Park

• Formal direction

• Library mandate

• Client-focused planning

• Selection and withdrawal

The Small Picture:Planning at the

Item Level

Placing items in acid-free envelopes

Placing material in covered boxes

Avoid shelf-overcrowding

The Small Picture:Planning at the Item

Level• Envelopes• Covered Boxes• Archival paper• Shelving• Dry air• Cooler room temperature• Stable temperature

The Manitoba Experience

1) Retrofitted building (1970s)2) Multiple HVAC systems3) Lack of alarms4) No automatic fire

suppression in the building5) Open staircases

Recent Emergencies

#1 Water from a leak in another part of the building was channelled

along the corrugated ceiling

Closer view of the water exit point

Wider view of the water exit point

# 2A blocked drain located within the ceiling caused a leak

Resources

UNESCO

Canadian Conservation

InstituteBritish Library Preservation

Advisory Centre

Heritage Institute

Questions? Comments? Suggestions?

Heidi ReesManitoba Legislative Library

Heidi.Rees@gov.mb.ca204-945-1069

204-948-1312 (fax)