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Collections Conservation at Princeton University Libraries
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Baird, Brian J. |
| Copyright Year | 1992 |
| Abstract | Princeton University Libraries {PUL) consist of Firestone Library, sixteen branch libraries, and two annexes {for off-site storage) which have combined holdings of 45 million books. PUL has one of the highest ratios of number of circulations to number of students in the nation with an average of over 100 circulations per student. This ratio affectsPUL in two ways. First, it means a large number of items get used, and second, a high amount of retrospective research is performed meaning the older material must be maintained. The Library has had an active book repair program for many years, but it was not until the late 1970's that true conservation and preservation programs began to develop. In the last year, the PUL reorganized itspreservationeffortsbyestablishingaPreservationOfficeandbyhiringRobertMilevski as thepreservation librarian. The Preservation Office consists of three units at this time: Collections Conservation, Brittle Books, and Arabic Preservation Project (grant-funded microfilming projects). PUL has also had a history of special collections conservation, but it was always separate from book repair and other preservation activities. With the recent reorgani7.ation this unit has been pulled into the new Preservation Office. Much time and many resources have been devoted to upgrading and improving general collections conservation since the reorganization of the Preservation Office and the hiring of Brian Baird as collections conservator. The philosophy of the Collections Conservation Unit is high production, sound treatments from a conservation point of view, and aesthetically pleasing results. This has involved staff retraining, unit reorganization, and changes in treatment standards. Last year collections conservation staff executed more than 18,000 treatments. The staff presently consist of one professional (the general collections conservator), two FI'E support staff, and three students (in addition, one FI'E professional level book treatment position is currently vacant). The conservation lab is being completely remodeled which involves moving the special collections conservation operation into the same area with general collections conservation, and providing more room and equipment for both. By autumn, Princeton will have hired a paper conservator for special collections and a book conservator for the general collections; and with the additional lab space, more students will also be hired. When fully staffed, the Collections Conservation Unit will consist of four FI'E's (two professional and two support staff), seven students (15FI'E), and one or two volunteers (0.SFI'E). Thus organized,in thenextfiscalyearPrinceton plans to double the number of items treated last year and to treble it two years from now. All of the material in the Princeton University Libraries that is identified for treatment is sent to the Collections Conservation Unit where the collections conservator reviews it and decides upon the most appropriate treatment for every item, including whether it requires in-house or commercial treatment. Material is primarily identified through handling and recorded use (i.e. drculation). In addition, bibliogra phers and selectors are encouraged to work with collections conservation staff to identify heavily used subject areas in the stacks which do not normally have recorded use, but which require maintenance and treatment. |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://cool.conservation-us.org/coolaic/sg/bpg/annual/v11/bpga11-22.pdf |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
