Special Collections and Preservation Jeanann Haas LIS2214 Introduction to Library and Archival Preservation

Agenda Background on Special Collections Ongoing Preservation Efforts Newer Options and Initiatives Conservation Case-Studies

Special Collections Department 363 Hillman Library Pittsburgh, PA (412) (412) 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 Department Book 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:

CONSOL Energy Mining Map Collection Approximately 700 hardback maps map sheets Survey books Photographs Published materials

Hardback Mine Maps s 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 Database Condition 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 TypeTotal Treatments Dry Clean376 Humidify and Flatten 110 Mend125 Tape Removal67 Partial Re-line19

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 AMERICA A 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

BeforeAfter

The conservation effort has facilitated …

The End! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Questions? Jeanann Haas Head, Special Collections and Preservation 363 Hillman Library