1. Tours for groups of six or more during the week can be arranged
Broomfield Depot Museum 2201 W 10th Ave Open Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Tours for groups of six or more during the week can be arranged
call (303) or

2. Mamie Doud Eisenhower Library
Introduction to the Ten Agents of Deterioration and Preventative Conservation
Saturday, February 25
Mamie Doud Eisenhower Library
Jacqui Ainlay-Conley
Museum Manager

3. What is Preventative Conservation?
It is wiser and less expensive to prevent damage and maintain and object’s integrity,
rather than relay on conservation treatment.

4. What are the 10 Agents of Deterioration?
Physical Forces
Thieves and Vandals
Fire
Water
Pests
Pollutants
Light
Incorrect Temperature
Incorrect Relative Humidity
Dissociation and Custodial Neglect

5. Physical Forces Impact Vibrations Pressure Abrasion Examples include:
Fast and catastrophic natural disasters and human errors (such as earthquakes, or bumping or dropping an object).
Slower acting with minor but repeated opportunity for damage (such as improper handling during research and educational use, or vibrations from nearby construction).

6. Preventative Conservation
Planning moves.
Providing support and padding.
Storing properly.

7. Thieves and Vandals Includes:
Planned theft by someone intent on violating the collection.
Opportunistic theft by visitors.
Embezzlement by staff.
Vandalism.

8. Preventative Conservation
This is small and shiny and must be in a case.
Preventative Conservation
Threat and Risk Assessment
What is important to you?
What are the security threats to those things?

9. Fire
Fire can potentially lead to the quick and catastrophic loss of an entire collection.

10. Preventative Conservation
This is small and shiny and must be in a case.
Preventative Conservation
Quick response.
Have precious objects in locations easy to grab.
Fireproof boxes.

11. Water Collections storage areas are frequently placed in Attics
Basements
These areas are most vulnerable to water damage in the event of a roof or plumbing leak, sprinkler system malfunction or flooding.

12. Preventative Conservation
This is small and shiny and must be in a case.
Preventative Conservation
Keep items off the floor.
Don’t store near sprinklers or plumbing.
Cover with sheeting.

13. Pests
Pests include
Animals
Insects
Mold/mildew/fungi

14. Preventative Conservation
This is small and shiny and must be in a case.
Preventative Conservation
Monitor for pests.
Don’t store items in places where people eat or keep food.

15. Pollutants
Pollutants can be generated both and outside and inside buildings---particulates and gases.
These can be airborne or transferred by direct contact.
Some even come from the objects themselves.

16. Preventative Conservation
This is small and shiny and must be in a case.
Preventative Conservation
Wash your hands before and after touching objects.
Bag potentially harmful items in polypropylene bags--Ziploc

17. Light Light damage: Cumulative Irreversible
is a function of light intensity (in lux or foot-candles) and length of time exposure.

18. Preventative Conservation
This is small and shiny and must be in a case.
Preventative Conservation
Location, location, location.
Turn off lights when not needed.

19. Incorrect Temperature and Humidity
Temperatures can increase or decrease the rate artifacts deteriorate.
Changes in moisture affects all objects differently—organics, metals, etc.

20. Preventative Conservation
This is small and shiny and must be in a case.
Preventative Conservation
Don’t allow great fluctuations.
Create microclimates.
Allow items to adjust.

21. Custodial Neglect
not taking action to preserve the collection or when information and practices on collections care are not current.
The second type of custodial neglect is the disassociation of collection objects and their records.

22. To learn more: Canadian Conservation Institute 10 Agents of Deterioration page U.S. Postal Museum

23. Exercise