Finding the Right Leaf Using Decision Tree Analysis to Ensure a Rich, Lush, and Successful Preservation Strategy

Background Information Legislative Library began as a single entity in Publishing began in Canada in 1752 in Halifax -Prior to 1862, the House of Assembly and the Legislative Council both had small libraries – less than 500 volumes total -Many MLAs donated materials -Materials to support the House came from Great Britain, Massachusetts, and Virginia As a result, the Legislative Library has a lot of material of historical significance requiring preservation.

Inventory the trees in the forest?  Need to know the collection.  We are currently moving some of our collection to a new building. We have discovered a number of uncatalogued “treasures” that require preservation treatment.  Specific Collections  Old Novascotiana (Pre 1910)  Rare Books  Old Periodicals  Old Legislative / Government Materials  Novascotiana (Post 1910)

Record Rotten or Near Rotten Trees

Mandate? Anyone else preserving? Money Required? Last copy? Assess for Mend/Preserve Budget? Keep in queue The Money Tree

The Treatment Tree Old Novascotiana or Rare Suitable for De- acidification Send to Preservation Technologies Update Record Is material reparable Reparable in house Mend Send for Repair Is it the last print copy? Now we do nothing Digitize Digitize using future overhead cameras

Materials sent out for repair  Check out materials to vendor. If there is no barcode on the material, assign one.  Create a list of materials checked out to Preservation Technologies or other vendor  On return, review materials and update all materials that were treated using batch update.  Add internal note using batch update on item record with treatment date and treatment received  Return materials in the system

Record Treatment

Correcting Past Wrongs  Sometimes treatment involves simply remedying the past.

Book Repair/Preservation Examples

Book Repair/Preservation