special collections and preservation jeanann haas lis2214 introduction to library and archival...
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Special Collections Department 363 Hillman Library Pittsburgh, PA (412) (412) faxTRANSCRIPT
Special Collections and Preservation
Jeanann HaasLIS2214 Introduction to Library and
Archival Preservation
Agenda
• Background on Special Collections
• Ongoing Preservation Efforts
• Newer Options and Initiatives
• Conservation Case-Studies
Special Collections Department363 Hillman LibraryPittsburgh, PA 15260
(412) 648-8190(412) 648-8192 fax
Past Practices
• Unusual Formats• Controversial Materials• Desirable Popular
Culture• Extremely Fragile
Material• Expensive Items• Bibliographer’s
Directives
Library Collections Storage Unit• 16,600 Square Foot - High-Density Storage
• Environmentally controlled
• Stored by size in acid-free cardboard trays
• Hydraulic lift retrieval
• PittCat+
Preservation DepartmentBook Repair on Circulating Collections
Protective Enclosures
Disaster Planning
Physical Object Preparation for Digitization
Digital Projects
• Barry Rosensteel Japanese Prints• Audubon’s Bird of America• George Washington Manuscripts• Archives of Scientific Philosophy• Darlington Library
Collections Conservation
• Groups of Materials• Standardized
Treatments• Efficiency and
Functionality• Integrated Preservation
Effort• Compromise
Single-Item Treatment
• Reversible • Limitations• Non-Damaging• Evidential Value•Historical Value•Research / Experimentation
Discussion
• Consult with Curator, Bibliographer, Archivist or Librarian.• Identify what the repair is trying to achieve.• Treatment Options? • In-House verses Outsourced Services
CONSOL Energy Mine Map Preservation Project
Source: http://www.pitt.edu/~aeb59/index.html
CONSOL Energy Mining Map Collection
• Approximately 700 hardback maps• 8000+ map sheets• Survey books• Photographs• Published materials
Hardback Mine Maps1870 - 1940s
• Heavyweight paper backed with canvas
• Master copy• Drafted by hand in graphite, later
“inked in”• Oversized
Partnerships
Survey and stabilize maps for scanning
Catalog and scan maps
Geo-reference digital images of maps
Project Staffing
Challenges with the Hardback
Maps
Collaborative DatabaseCondition Tab
Dry Cleaning
• 3”x 9” Soot Sponges - Paper front• Nilfisk Back Vacuum - Canvas back• All Maps Require Dry Cleaning
Humidification & Flattening
• 5’ x 8’ Museum Services Humidity Dome
• Avg. 5 hrs/map
• 25% of maps need humidified
Project Statistics: Cumulative Treatments June 2007 to
December 2010 Treatment
Type Total Treatments
Dry Clean 376
Humidify and Flatten
110
Mend 125
Tape Removal 67
Partial Re-line 19
Scanning Specifications
• Cruse Table Scanner CS 285/1100 ST/FA– 58” x 90” vacuum table– 8 or 16 bit grayscale– 12 or 24 bit true color– 220 – 630 dpi– File size approx 1.1 GB
• Image Format– Uncompressed TIFF– 24-bit True Color
Rewards of Project
THE BIRDS OF AMERICAA Conservation and Exhibition
Challenge
• Deteriorated cords and sewing
• Degraded leather
The Condition of Pitt’s Binding
• Broken spine• Missing head caps and end bands• Loosely attached boards
Condition of Birds of America - Continued
Binding edge
Grain direction
Distortion from Exposure to High Humidity
Severe cockling from large mends applied to the reverse
Conservation Treatment
After treatment
Before After
The conservation effort has facilitated…
The End!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Questions?
Jeanann HaasHead, Special Collections and Preservation
363 Hillman Library412-648-8190