Pass it On: Saving Heritage and Memories
Developing Programs for the Public
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• New Jersey State Library sponsored program with funding from Institute of Library and Museum ServicesAdditional Recognition:
• American Library Association. Association of Library Collections and Technical Services
• Library of Congress• Institute of Library and Museum Services• American Institute for Conservation• Society of American Archivists• Heritage Preservation
Preservation Week
• Heritage Health Index finding• Need to reduce risk and damage to our
collections• Preservation Week opportunity to inspire
action• Role of cultural institutions have to provide
preservation information• [email protected]
OBJECTIVES
• Preservation strategies for public caring for their treasures
• Developing outreach programs• Resources for fostering preservation programs• Ideas for low/cost and low staff labor events
MAJOR MESSAGES
• Purpose of preservation is to save memories.• Preservation is a theme to use to develop new
audiences.• You do not need to be an expert. There are
resources.• Celebrate Preservation Week May 9-15, 2010
www.ala.org/preservationweek
Family Treasures
• What are family treasures?• Why preserve them?• What to preserve?
Deterioration
Internal Vices + External Vices
Object Composition Environment
Causes of Deterioration and Damage
• Environmental Conditions• Storage Conditions• Display Conditions• Handling
Environmental Conditions
• Temperature• Humidity• Light• Pollutants• Pests
Temperature + Humidity
• Promotes chemical reactions
• High temperature increases decay rate
Humidity
• Too dry is damaging
• Too humid is damaging
• Wild fluctuations is damaging
• Sensitive to humidityOrganic materials and
metals
Light Damage
• Cumulative• Irreversible• Fading, Color change,
Brittle
• Sensitive to lightOrganic materials-paper, photographs, textiles,furniture, ivory
Dust and Air Pollution
• Dust• Gaseous
• Housekeeping
• Sensitive to pollutionSilver/metal tarnishes, corrodesFibers breakdown in paper and textiles
Pests
• Insects• Rodents
• SensitiveOrganic materials, Building structures
Storage Location
• Determine best place to store• Dry, cool, stable environment• Beware of attics, basements or garages• Insects • Rodents
How to Display Treasures
• Avoid heat sources• Limit light exposure• Install shades and close
curtains • Hang on interior walls• Safe locations from
bumping, hitting, unnecessary handling
• Use proper matting and frames
• UV filtering glazing
Safe Handling and Use
• Know your walking path and have a safe place to put down the object
• Two hands when needed
• Clean Hands• No Lotion
Do No Harm
• Paper clips• Rubber bands• Tapes• Sticky notes• Glue
• To remove staples, clipswww.nedcc.org/resources/leaflets/7Conservation_Procedures/08RemovalOfFastener
What to Do?
How Should Objects Be Stored?
• On shelves• Off the floor
• Protective enclosures- folders and boxes
• Labeled
Think Inside the Box
Storage Materials
• Durable• Provide physical
support• Boxes closed without
gaps• Match size of object
Storage Materials
• Term Archival-Quality isConfusing
• Paper enclosures- Low-lignin or lignin-
free- Buffered
• Use unbuffered papers for: blueprints, some art on paper, color photographs, textiles
Photographs- papers passed Photographic Activity Test (PAT)
Storage Materials
• Preservation Grade Plastics- Brand name: Melinex
516
- Polyethylene and polypropylene okay if no plasticizers used
• When not to use!Pencil, charcoal, friable media due to static properties on plastic
Should I Do a Repair?
DO NO HARM
• Home repairs? Control Yourself• Self–adhesives tapes are not safe• Stains – Learn to live with them• Lamination – Just say no!
When to Call in the Experts?
• Severely damaged• Valuable• Poor framing• Mold damaged• Pest Infestation
• Read about how to select and find a conservator www.conservation-us.org
• Regional Alliance for Preservationwww.rap-arcc.org
Disaster Preparedness
• Security• Fire protection• Natural disasters • Insurance• Salvage
Salvage
• Safety first• Assess damage• Make a plan• Start as soon as can• Handle objects as little
as possible• Care in handling• Call an expert
Disaster Resources
• Heritage Preservationwww.heritagepreservation.org
• Council of State Archivistswww.statearchivists.or/prepare
• Disaster Resources from ALA Preservation Weekwww.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alcts/confevents/preswk/tools/disaster.cfm
Other Issues
• Appraisalwww.loc.gov/preserv/appraiserref.html
• Donatinghttp://www.archivists.org/publications/donating-familyrecs.asp
• Organizing and documenting treasureswww.mnhs.org/people/mngg/stories/orgpapers.htmwww.netnebraska.org/extras/treasures/
Family Papers
• Store- Folders, sleeves, boxes
• Separate newspapers• Copy
- Newspapers , frequently handled
• Display- Copies if possible
• Stable environment• Low or no light• Seldom fold or unfold• Do not use: clips,
rubber bands, tape, etc.
Photographs
• Store- Sleeves
- -plastic or paper- Folders, boxes or
albums
• Display- Limit time- Use a copy- UV filtering glazing
• Stable environment• No light• Use clean white cotton
gloves• Avoid adhesives• Avoid overcrowding• Photographic
reproduction
Books
• Store- Flat, upright or spine
down- Shelving or boxes
• Use wrappers sized to book
• Stable environment• Low or no light• Clean hands• No head cap grabbing• No sticky notes or tapes• Dust properly
Textiles
• Store- Flat, rolled, hanging- Unbuffered tissue
• Display-Frame with UV glazing
- Hanging system
• Stable environment• Low or no light• Pest prevention• Cleaning ? Ask a
conservator• Regular inspection• Handle without your
jewelry on
Digital Images
• Back-up files• Tag files• Migrate and Save• E-mails• Store safely
• How to embed photo metadatahttp://www.photometadata.org/META-Tutorials
Power point prepared by:Jill RawnsleyPreservation [email protected]
Key Resources
I would like to acknowledge the main resources used to develop this power point program.• Hold on to the Memories: Saving Family Treasures. Prepared
for the California Preservation Program and the Inland Empire Libraries Disaster Response Network by Sheryl Davis, 3/5/2005http://calpreservation.org/services/programs.html#saving_family
• Preserving Family Collections: A Workshop Manual. Clement Bautista and Gina Vergara-Bautista, 2008 http://efilarchives.org/pdf/Preservation_Manual2-2_web.pdf
Some Videos to Show
Here are some videos to show during breaks or part of your program. Saving Your Treasureshttp://www.netnebraska.org/extras/treasures/index.htmMr. Bean goes to the libraryhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGjnuV1iIWc Canadian Conservation Institute http://www.preservation.gc.ca/howto-comment/index-eng.asp
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